Review by Sam Sweeney
Void of Vision have been described as one of Melbourne’s most exciting emerging metalcore bands, and debut album Children of Chrome does nothing but prove this statement to be true. It’s been three years since Void of Vision outgrew their initial status as a local heavy band, and found a new home in Melbourne’s thriving metalcore scene with a future that could not be more promising.
Children of Chrome is 11 songs of angst driven musical outcry, an expression of retaliation against the world the band are so thoroughly disenchanted by. As a long time lover of any and all music with political discussion, this album is exactly what Melbourne, and perhaps more so the world, is in desperate need of.
Opening track // features Stray From The Path’s Drew Dijorio in what is an incredibly apt partnership. Vocalist Jack Bergin is unrelentingly aggressive; he is unapologetic in his encouragement of his audience to pay attention to the corruption in the world around them and abandon their passivity. Right from the start, it is clear that Void of Vision have a message and are determined to make themselves heard, from the power of the drums to the monumentally heavy riffs, it’s indeed hard to ignore them.
Second track Blacklist keeps up the pace with ease. As equally evident as the band’s expression of outrage is their comfort within the genre. Blacklist is a song of speed in its entirety before Ctrl Freak introduces some massive clean vocals and breakdowns to match. This song is arguably one of the best on the album. It offers a showcase of the album as a whole and everything Void of Vision have to offer: massive breakdowns and a rapid tempo right though to soaring guitar melodies, and the establishment of suspense so crucial to a good mosh.
The Hills and In Black & White are tracks that simply exude the kind of pissed off attitude so vital to a good politically charged album. Combined with following tracks As Above, So Below and Wallow, this mid section of Children of Chrome is both a continuation of the aggressive tirade thematic to the album, while also acting as a prelude to the more mellow, yet equally impactful end of the album.
Wallow ends with some incredible guitar melodies left to ring out and lead into instrumental track Under Skin. This song offers a brief reprise from the intensity of the previous seven songs and, contrary to the musical complexity and weight of these songs, is comprised of simple overlapped melodies.
Ninth track Sunrise begins similarly and picks up the previous pace of the album, however, this time with a greater emphasis on melody, albeit subtle. Another change is the most emotive character of the lyrics, with both clean and unclean vocals pleading “don’t give up on me” through the end of the song.
Red Handed and Fair-Weather round out Children of Chrome nicely with solid breakdowns and the same quality of massive vocals that dominate the album. On the whole, Void of Vision’s debut album is a statement and a huge one at that.
The aggression in the music reflects the disillusionment that inspires the lyrics, creating an album that will well and truly preserve the band’s place in the metalcore scene. For everybody who’s angry: this is your album, and for everyone who isn’t: you should be.
Grab the new album on bandcamp here.
