“I can’t be who you want me to be, But I keep craving that false sense of security”
A much anticipated release amongst fans and peers alike, Mikau are finally back to release their sophomore album, Agartha, and the wait was absolutely worth it. An effortless blend of metalcore revival stylings, cybergrind chaos, and a hugely nostalgic emo flair, Agartha is a relentless sonic journey that feels both refreshing and deeply nostalgic.
From its opening moments with “Spiraling Decay”, it is abundantly clear that Mikau’s genre-blending abilities are stronger than ever, pulling listeners headfirst into the chaotic, electrified underworld of Agartha. The eclectic mix of genres creates a dizzying yet equally exhilarating introduction, and truly sets the scene for what is about to unfold.
In fact, it’s Mikau’s ability to blend genres so effortlessly which truly sets them apart from their contemporaries, and they’re truly putting this on display here. Managing to continually switch things up across the album, with no one combination ever becoming stale is an achievement in its own right, but to do it and make it sound so good shows real skill.
There’s examples here where the band lean further into metalcore stylings, letting the guitars and vocals take lead, and these are, expectedly, great. But it’s perhaps the times where this sound is directly contrasted which come off the strongest. There’s many occasions across Agartha where we are treated to punishingly brutal instrumentation whilst 8-bit style synths fly by in the background. It’s a contrast that’s gradually becoming more popular, but Mikau showcases a mastery for the approach which many are yet to achieve.
In opposition to this, are tracks like “Negative Karma”, “Neophyte”, and “Wraith” which double down on their heaviness, and sees the band exploring a much more nu-metalcore sound akin to the likes of Fromjoy, and ZOMBIESHARK!, and it’s absolutely brilliant. Glitchy guitars, punchy drums, and unrelenting vocal runs really drive home the aggression behind these tracks. Not to mention the lyrical content, which is just as ferocious to match. With this said, “Neophyte” does sadly also include one of my few gripes with this album, namely, the vocal levels. There’s moments on this track, where some of the screamed vocals are so low in the mix that they’re near unintelligible, and sadly, it detracts from what is otherwise a stellar track. Clearly a stylistic choice, I’d be interested to understand the reasoning for this, but sadly for me it leaves a blemish on what is otherwise a fantastic track.
There’s plenty of other similarities to be drawn across this album, notably, “Intrinsic Gray”, which feels like an homage to UK metalcore revivalists (see Killing Me Softly, Durendal). It’s a fantastic composition, and truly feels like a love letter to the scene, whilst also maintaining that signature Mikau twist that truly makes it their own. Oh, and did I mention that there’s also an incredibly synth-led outro here that feels like a direct shout out to Omerta?
“Morphic Resonance” slows things down and takes a more deliberate approach, letting backing synths shine against chugging, down-tuned guitars. The “all suffering will cease” line just before the vocals kick in creates a chilling transition, and the track ultimately builds into one of the heaviest moments on the record. Then comes “Not Alone”, a stark contrast that somehow works brilliantly. Light synths and an unexpected Eurodance beat with heavily tuned vocals make for a refreshing pivot, proving Mikau’s ability to experiment without losing their identity.
The back end of this album almost feels like we are turning back on ourselves, with similar stylings returning from the first half, but this time blended in completely different ways. “Seven Days Of Fire”, and “Orbital Frame” compliment one another fantastically, both blending the same stylings in completely different ways whilst remaining cohesive when juxtaposed. “Seven Days Of Fire” features a nintendo-core esque break reminiscent of the works of Blind Equation, whilst being distinctly Mikau at the same time.
The closer, “Echopraxia”, is the perfect punctuation mark to close out this journey, slowing things down and gradually fading to nothingness. There’s samples, synths, and an abundance of their signature whiney, autotuned vocals, which build up to then fizzle out. I can only describe the experience as being akin to vanishing into the distance, but it absolutely works and I wouldn’t have asked for anything more to close things out.
All of this to say that Mikau delivers an intense, unpredictable, and genre-blurring experience with Agartha. The screamed vocals are absolutely stellar throughout, though at times the auto-tuned cleans may lean a bit too far into 2000s nostalgia for some people’s taste. While firmly rooted in the current metalcore revival, the cybergrind influence gives the album a unique edge that truly sets it apart.
With Agartha, Mikau proves they’re not just riding the wave of hype, they’re shaping it. A must-listen for fans of heavy music pushing boundaries.
9/10
Agartha is out now via self-release and can be purchased from their bandcamp here.