“Nothing hits you as hard as life.”
As a genre, it is safe to say that metalcore in 2023 is thriving better than it has in quite some time. While one would be remissed to disregard the commercial success of veteran mainstays like Architects and Parkway Drive (despite the somewhat “questionable” recent output, particularly in the latter case), what truly seems to be driving metalcore is the vast array of emerging and evolving styles propelled by up-and-coming bands and genre staples alike. With rising stars such as Loathe, Allt, and of-course Spiritbox colliding with the continuous creative flourishing of staples such as Northlane and The Devil Wears Prada to all put their own twists and integrate their own influences into the thought-to-be well-known sound, it is a genuinely exciting time to be a metalcore fan. However, with this flourishing of creative juices, it is inevitable for some to fall behind to some degree, and such is unfortunately the case with Ad Astra, the newest offering from Danish metalcore “underdogs” Aphyxion. That is not to say the album, and albums such as this in general, have no place in the scene, as they most certainly do. However, it is certainly nothing to write home about.
On a purely stylistic level, Aphyxion actually does have quite an eclectic blend of influences. Blending together metalcore songwriting, digitized soundscapes, nu metal energy, and an overall sound that is undeniably reminiscent of alternative rock in many ways, the group certainly sought to create an identity which frees itself of being generic. It is in no way untreaded territory, as the sound is somewhat akin to the likes of modern Wage War or even Kingdom of Giants in the more digitized moments, but on paper this mix of influences has potential to yield interesting results. However, where the album falls short is in its songwriting and execution, as unfortunately many of the tracks throughout Ad Astra feel stale or even just underwhelming, especially when viewed within the context of the entire album. There is a bit of a tonal conflict present on Ad Astra which dumbs down what could be possible strengths to make the album sound cohesive while sacrificing a feeling of impact or emotion. To put it bluntly, the majority of the runtime is made up of tracks which unfortunately feel rather bland and forgettable. For example, while there is no glaring issue with tracks such as “Rover”, “Anomalies”, “Out of Breath”, and most-notably opening track “Roll The Dice”, they are too inoffensive for their own good. Despite some individual sections which are somewhat interesting, such as the extra digitized breakdown in “Anomalies”, these songs as a whole simply do not bring much to the table. They are fine tracks, but generally nothing more. And unfortunately the same can be said for a majority of the album, creating a product which feels repetitive and stagnant.
One glaring issue which contributes to the repetitive nature of the album is that by-and-large, most of the tracks sound the same. Practically every track on the album features a somewhat groovy nu-metal inspired riff, a verse which mixes clean guitars and prominent synthesizers with harsh vocals, an alternative rock inspired clean chorus, and a metalcore breakdown. While there are some extra bits and pieces thrown in there every once in a while, such as the chant sections in final two tracks “Fade To Black” and “Not Gonna Make It”, these are the general components of every song on Ad Astra. Some bands can make this work with strong performances and a bit of creative nuance, but Aphyxion vastly falls short on the former to shattering levels. The performances on this album are once again in no way bad or offensive, but there is nothing memorable about them. Practically all of the guitar riffs are extremely “okay” and nothing more, the breakdowns are nearly all identical with a few nuanced exceptions, and most notably and devastatingly the choruses are insanely mediocre. It is in this way that Ad Astra loses almost all of its potential to have emotional impact or memorability.
There are some redeeming qualities throughout Ad Astra that save it from being completely unmemorable, and these qualities can overwhelmingly be found in two tracks: “Oceans Of Time” and “Neon Billboards”. The former, featuring Berlin-based progressive metalcore outfit Chaosbay stands out with its much more prominent sense of atmosphere and a more emotionally striking chorus. The track has a bit more of a focus on cleans, which gives a needed break from the ever-present formula found throughout the rest of the album. The latter of these tracks, despite having a rather forgettable chorus, has a more vibrant quality to the soundscape which gives it an edge over its counterparts. It also has a breakdown which sticks with me more than the other breakdowns for no particular reason other than just being extra fun, and as a result it does not detract from the song unlike many of the others. Both of these tracks, particularly “Oceans Of Time”, are definite album stand-outs as whole songs, but there are some stand-out moments scattered throughout other tracks which are worth mentioning.
These moments of bliss are typically quick and small, but some are especially notable. For example, “Heavy Shadows” has a cool syncopated main riff which is much more memorable than the typical nu metal-esque groove riffing of other tracks and an energetic vocal feature from Archie Hatfield of UK–based metalcore group Immerse. Also worth mentioning is the bass in the verses of the previously mentioned album closer, “Not Gonna Make It”. While it is nothing huge in the grand scheme of things, the simple fact that it has some grit makes it a breath of fresh air due to the fact that the rhythm sections throughout the entire rest of the album are rather boring. A simple touch such as this gives a sufficient amount of character to a section which otherwise would fade in with everything else, and just having more of these moments would go a long way.
In sum, “Ad Astra” is an album which is entirely inoffensive, but is so inoffensive that it suffers quite a bit. Despite having standout tracks, listening to the album as a whole sparks the feeling that something is missing in Aphyxion’s songwriting. The band gives hints that they are capable of making something more impactful, but unfortunately that is the general extent of the album’s virtues. There is no denying that Ad Astra is a competent album which has some fun ideas, particularly if listening in a less intimate manner. However, giving the album full, undivided attention will often bare a lingering feeling that it leaves something to be desired. One thing is for certain: it will be interesting to see where the group goes from here, as if they are able to hone in on their nuances and improve their performances there is no doubt that they have potential to at the very least earn a place among metalcore’s well-regarded, if not more.
5/10
Ad Astra is out February 10th via Circular Wave, and can be pre-ordered here.