Diamond Construct – Angel Killer Zero (Album Review)
Diamond Construct – Angel Killer Zero
Released: April 26th, 2024
Lineup:
Kynan Groundwater // Vocals
Braden Groundwater // Guitar
Alex Ford // Bass
Liam Newman // Drums
Online
It’s thrilling to discover an artist and fall in love with them. When you chuck Spotify on shuffle or see a band kill it at a live show, you become enamoured and eager to shove their discography in your ears. By the time you’re done, you want more. That’s how I felt when I first heard Diamond Construct.
When I listened to their nu-metalcore anthem ‘Hit It Back‘, I knew I had to see them at Knight & Day Festival. Among the dust and heat stroke, they stood out on stage and I became an instant fan. Once I recovered from those crazy couple of days I dove into their prior releases and found an appreciation and love for their unique sound. Diamond Construct had created and experimented with a sound that hooked me unlike anything else I’d listened to at the time. I had some chats with the band after an intimate show in Albury in 2022, and I was incredibly keen for their latest material to see the light of day. At last, a new album cycle launched, with three killer singles and a slew of mental shows to accompany it. I saw these singles performed live recently, and I was chomping at the bit to get Diamond Construct’s sophomore album Angel Killer Zero in my ears.
Sci-fi bop ‘Hashira‘ sets the tone for the album through the use of almost overwhelming glitchy effects with nuanced electronics sprinkled throughout. Kynan Groundwater’s signature screams work to keep the heavy vibes going strong, whetting the pallet for what’s to come. This heavy electronic song also features the edgy opening line “Shut the fuck up cunt” which while somewhat juvenile, is simply fun as hell.
More familiar nu-metalcore vibes come swinging through with lead single ‘Jynx‘ from the second Liam Newman hits the drum intro, and the tough riffs courtesy of Braden Groundwater are far more prevalent. I love the heavy rap throughout the breakdown build-up, which features multiple waves of release. ‘Neon‘ is a spooky cyber-horror track, and while listening I can visualise a cyberpunk-esque scene featuring someone in control of a building’s security system. I can audibly hear the tuning of machines in short interludes as we are hit with bouncy cleans. Thematically this feels perfectly suited to the robot-like repeats of lyrics as the track closes.
‘Zodiac Memories‘ is a song made to pit to, featuring a brutal opening and fun as fuck riffs. This is by far the heaviest track on the album and caters towards those who just want to let loose on the world. The intense down tuning and simple yet effective guitars in the chorus as well as varied song structures help to sell this monster of a song. Where I was expecting a heavy breakdown, I was surprisingly met with a short electronic fusion which hit the mark. I’m a big fan of the experimentation here on this record, and the differing dynamics offered in the next song add to that. Punchy drums and heavy guitars give way to some clever bass work from Alex Ford, as Kynan hits a new vocal groove on ‘Faded‘. The clean vocals layered over lighter metalcore toning are so pleasant to vibe to, yet so is the exciting transition to a heavy closing breakdown.
When I think of the song to describe this album, I think one of the goals would be the combination of sounds from prior releases. I believe ‘Switchblade OST‘ smashes that out of the park. We get the rapping vocals, the heavy bass and guitars, in-your-face drums and effective digital effects that all help to set the tone for what to expect. If the infamous nightclub scene from Blade had a nu-metalcore-infused replacement track, it would be ‘Delirium‘. The digital intro had me in that mind space instantly, and constant hacker-like button-pressing imagery is conjured alongside the constant onslaught of instrumentals. Kynan does not let up in the vocal department, and I can’t help but feel the similarities to previous song ‘Animus‘ (in a good way). Braden’s enthusiastic and consistently hectic riffs make this banger a standout.
Diamond Construct debuted ‘Hell Inside You‘ on their run with Emmure, and also played it at their recent regional show in Wagga Wagga. Since hearing it live I’ve been stoked to give this boppy track a proper listen and I’m loving it. The third single from this album further showcases Kynan’s intensity and range, working in tandem with Braden’s proficient guitar delivery. He leads the instrumentals to power down for sensible lulls to invite you into a sonic power-up. Speaking of next-level, ‘I Don’t‘ is an explosive assault on the senses. The instrumentals are filthy, the vocals are relentless and the spoken interlude is only a small respite. We get our moment to catch our breath with a pretty outro before we hit the final two tracks of this spectacle.
This leads to the peaceful introspection that begins with ‘Clickbait‘. The melodies and clean vocals are finely accentuated with the instrumentals to provide a lighter sound than we’re used to. Complimenting heavy sections are pocketed throughout, however ‘Clickbait‘ might be the most surprising and interesting track on the album. The final track ‘You Want That Scene Shit‘ was debuted live at the aforementioned Wagga Wagga gig as a phenomenal set closer. Feeling like a summary of Angel Killer Zero, the song features hyperactive drum work to drive home the fast-paced signature and futuristic sound of the album.
Diamond Construct’s sophomore LP Angel Killer Zero is a true testament to what a band can achieve when they create, experiment and evolve their sound. The growth from all prior releases until now is evident, and lessons learned have been applied selectively to create a sound that is definitively theirs. Diamond Construct hit the nail on the head in expressing themselves through their art, and I cannot recommend enough that you explore this album for yourself.
Diamond Construct – Angel Killer Zero tracklisting:
1. Hashira
2. Jynx
3. Neon
4. Zodiac Memories
5. Faded
6. Switchblade OST
7. Delirium
8. Hell Inside You
9. I Don’t
10. Clickbait
11. You Want That Scene Shit
Rating 9/10
Angel Killer Zero is out April 26th via Greyscale Records and Pale Chord. Pre-Order here.
Review by Tyler Lubke.