“When I’m gone, will you remember how December got colder, the moment I let you down?”
Readers of the CHRONICLES I: LUST review might have been left with the impression that I absolutely adore Void Of Vision, and that’s not even the full extent of it. Void Of Vision are one of the tightest live units I’ve ever witnessed, and my affection of them has only strengthened following the release of my favourite 2022 track thus far, ‘DOMINATRIX’.
Now, with the recent revealing of the second chapter in the CHRONICLES saga in addition to international tours with August Burns Red and Holding Absence, the collective hype surrounding Void Of Vision has reached a fever pitch. I’m beyond delighted, then, to be presenting 2022’s fiercest EP yet: CHRONICLES II: HEAVEN.
Launching into action like a venomous viper, opening track ‘BERGHAIN’ is a ballistic blast, extremely volatile and vicious from start to end. Named after the infamous Berlin nightclub, ‘BERGHAIN’ exemplifies Void Of Vision’s audiovisual identity perfectly — vocalist Jack Bergin seductively groans “Dressed pitch black from head to toe / Black eyes / Black nails / Black fucking soul, GO!”, whilst deadly drop-tuned duo James McKendrick and Mitch Fairlie offer up colossal, crushing riffs.
It’d be criminal if I didn’t highlight this EP’s standout lyric — verse two of ‘BERGHAIN’: “Magnetic érotique / A pornographic state of being / I need ungodly frequencies / I need to feel the heat passing through me / Pure ecstasy.” Damn, this band is horny and I am 100% here for it.
I can’t stress this enough — second song ‘DOMINATRIX’ is Void Of Vision in their ultimate, final boss form. This track is utterly faultless, from its infectious dark-pop vocal hook to its intoxicatingly good production value. Drummer George Murphy in particular shines through, adding nuance and percussive flavour to Lance Prenc’s massive-sounding mix.
As showcased across CHRONICLES I: LUST and continuing with CHRONICLES II: HEAVEN, Void Of Vision are leaning heavily into a striking black-and-white aesthetic, replete with gothic and BDSM touches. It’s bizarre — you can almost hear this throughout the EP — the overarching soundscapes on offer here are blackened and bleak, but certainly not without beauty and glamour.
Recently released ‘INTO THE DARK’ swings in midway, hybridising Alien by Northlane with Bring Me The Horizon’s POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR. The resulting composition is just fucking phenomenal — ‘INTO THE DARK’ is Void Of Vision at their most unfiltered and uncompromising. Anthemic hook “I don’t want to feel the way you feel / ‘Cause I don’t want to feel the way I feel” gets stuck right under your skin, embedding itself and carving its place as one of the downright catchiest tracks of 2022.
‘SAINT MISERABLE’ is (who would’ve guessed it) another absolute banger. With its soaring clean chorus and hyper-energetic riff-work, ‘SAINT MISERABLE’ scratches a major Thornhill-sized itch; many missing their older sound are bound to adore this tune.
Fifth and final track ‘ALTAR’ is staggeringly authentic. It is regrettably rare to find music in today’s world that is so searingly emotional and genuine, but Void Of Vision have managed to execute their most moving track to date, with a little help from Creeper vocalist Hannah Greenwood. Standout lyric “When I’m gone / Will you remember how December got colder / The moment I let you down?” is a heartrendingly expressive sentiment, perhaps to a departed lover or dear friend.
Ultimately, I am completely powerless to place any fault with CHRONICLES II: HEAVEN. Totalling a rapid-fire eighteen minutes, CHRONICLES II: HEAVEN can be played front to back three whole times within an hour, even leaving a few minutes spare so you can tidy yourself up after the hot mess it’s likely to leave you in.
Through all its dark and broody sentiments, this EP comes out the other end of the journey a truly beautiful and wildly-colourful beast, with its wings spread wider than any prior creation by Void Of Vision. I genuinely believe there is something on CHRONICLES II: HEAVEN that will appeal to everyone, and that this is just the very beginning of a blindingly-bright future for Void Of Vision.
10/10
CHRONICLES II: LUST will be released via UNFD on April 29th 2022. For more on Void Of Vision, UNFD bands and music in general, make Boolin Tunes your go-to.