Invent Animate - The Sun Sleeps, As If It Never Was (EP Review)
Invent Animate - The Sun Sleeps, As If It Never Was
Released: September 23rd, 2021
Line-Up:
Marcus Vik // Vocals
Caleb Sherraden // Bass
Keaton Goldwire // Guitar
Trey Celaya // Drums
Online:
Metalcore heavy-hitters Invent Animate from Texas have quickly returned to the spotlight after releasing last year's album titled Greyview with their new EP. It contains a sobering theme of drug addiction and trauma with multiple perspectives on the topic (revisit my interview with drummer Trey Celaya talking all about it here). With the band being the newest addition to the UNFD family, will this EP further push this act on their path of an upwards trajectory? Let's assess.
Based on the perspective of the drug addict, the lead single 'The Sun Sleeps' begins with synths that quickly transition into Marcus Vik's hard-hitting mid-range vocals as he screams 'The shattered soul in a lifetime of regret. Decay, We enter the blight'. At which point we are introduced to the chugging bass guitar and powerful drumming that are we are used to from hearing on their previous album Greyview. A delicate chorus makes for a healthy balance between the light and heavy contrasts as Marcus shows of range as a clean and unclean vocalist as he sings 'How do you sleep at night with a war inside you? How does it feel to die knowing I've forgotten you?'. Trey Celaya's impressive drumming throughout the bridge and into the breakdown is remarkably on point.
We are then brought to the EP's interlude titled ','. This track is nearly one and a half minutes of synths; it's easy to listen to as it gives the listener time to process the emotions that the previous song may have brought up before moving on to the next onslaught.
As the EP comes to a close, we are presented with the final track titled 'As If It Never Was' which is written from the perspective of those that are affected by the drug users behaviours. It begins gradually with Vik's elegantly haunting clean vocals before we are taken to the highest tempo. 'Love is not enough for me' is screamed clearly before a breakdown errupts just before the halfway point. With an abundance of cymbal hits seemingly laying the song's foundation as it ebbs and flows between alluringly melodic and chuggingly heavy. The buildup to the final breakdown has me sitting on the edge of my seat as the lyrics 'You want to be free' take us to the outo.
Invent Animate have given us an EP that is quite dark in nature yet beautifully honest. They have presented us with similar sounds to their previous album as well newly refined features that are shaping the newest era of the band.
Invent Animate - The Sun Sleeps, As If It Never Was tracklisting:
1. The Sun Sleeps
2. ,
3. As If It Never Was
Rating: 9/10
The Sun Sleeps, As If It Never Was is out tomorrow via UNFD. Pre Order here.
Review by Adam Rice
If you or anyone you know is suffering from the disease of addiction we at Wall of Sound urge you to call the following organisations:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Narcotics Anonymous: 1300 652 820
Alcoholics Anonymous: 9529 5948
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