Album Review: Psychonaut - World Maker
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
It’s time for another instalment from Pelagic Records’ seemingly never ending supply line of talent. Talent that has occupied slots on many of the UK’s prestigious festivals over the years, including Damnation and ArcTanGent. One band in particular caught my eye during the summer of 2024 inside ArcTanGent’s Yokhai stage and made quite the impression on me. Psychonaut! I was totally sold on the Belgian power trio’s progressive and blistering approach to metal and was excited at the prospect of checking out their upcoming release “World Maker”.
Since that day in the Bristol countryside, and the writing of this album, the band have undergone many life changing events, including vocalist/guitarist Stefan becoming a father, whilst he and bassist/guitarist Thomas both had to come to terms with both of their father’s being diagnosed with cancers in a very unfortunate coinciding of events. Both comment on how these events have shaped the content of “World Maker”. As such, we could expect something deeper and more on the philosophical side as well as harnessing that pure emotion that is central to Psychonaut’s sound. Without further ado, let’s see how this manifests and let’s get into it…
The album kicks off with the title track ‘World Maker’. One of the more delicate and melodic tracks, the absence of the usual power and force you expect from Psychonaut provides an opportunity for the lyrics to shine, and allowing you the listener to analyse and interpret their deeper underlying meaning.
Rage. Angst. Fury. Call it what you want, “World Maker” is full of primitive emotion! Though the way this is portrayed is rather impressive. See, rather than taking the route one approach and pounding your eardrums with mindless screams and blast beats, Psychonaut take a much more calculated and structured approach, letting this anger disperse gradually along the build to a larger overall climax. I feel like ‘You Are The Sky’ is one of the better examples of this approach, making you work for that climax rather than just being handed it on a platter.
‘And You Came With Searing Light’ is another fine example of a gradual yet rewarding build. In just under seven minutes, you’ll find yourself pulled apart in multiple emotional directions. You’ll find yourself being lulled and serenaded by the sheer beauty of the opening passage. Though before you know it, you’ll find yourself being dragged into one of the more punishing passages on the album; a shift so gradual, you’ll wonder how you missed it. This speaks to the vast compositional skills the band possess.
This intelligent approach to song writing manifests in other ways. In particular during ‘Origins’. This has a clear South Asian spine to it, utilising Indian tabla to drive the both the pulse and melody of this instrumental, saying so much even in the absence of lyrics! This isn’t the only occasion where Asian inspired melodies are explored. No, ‘All In Time’ is another great example, with the hypnotic Middle Eastern flavoured riffs powered with meaty distorted effects giving a progressive metal vibe like that of a Mastodon track. Whereas Mastodon have two guitars and a bass, Psychonaut have a guitar less and thus fewer resources. This means there’s less room for error but also a window of opportunity. One which Thomas takes with both hands as his groovy and expansive basslines adding an additional melodic focal point and stepping up to the main character slot admirably well. ‘You Are The Sky’ offers a bass guitar clinic for anybody interested.
These are just some of the things that “World Maker” great. The album is challenging, thought provoking, and a true roller coaster of emotions.
The band return to the UK this autumn at Damnation Festival. You’d better believe I’ll be there for their set!
