Alien - Northlane

Key Facts

Country: 🇦🇺

Genre: Metalcore, Progressive, Nu-metal (influenced)

Release Date: 2nd August 2019

Record Label(s): UNFD

Band Members:

Jon Deiley – lead guitar, programming

Josh Smith – rhythm guitar

Nic Pettersen – drums, percussion

Marcus Bridge – lead vocals 

Brendon Padjasek – bass, backing vocals 

Northlane - Eclipse

Review
Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Favourite Track(s): Bloodline, Talking Heads, Details Matter, Jinn, Rift

The long awaited fifth album by fast becoming Australian legends Northlane has finally arrived to devastate our ears with its crushing combinations of nu-metal inspired synthetics and progressive metalcore. This album is unlike any Northlane we have previously heard, the band have once again pushed their boundaries and created something completely mind blowing. With some more darker  and deeper lyrical elements seeping through the crushing riffs of Marcus's personal life it feels like this album is a journey that we all needed to be a part of. With this their 3rd full length album in as many years the Northlane production line is contenting to manufacture awesome albums at a phenomenal rate yet constantly evolving its manufacturing machinery.

Musically, this is the most experimental I've heard from Northlane, but you also kind of felt like something Alien was going to happen given the direction of 2016's Node and 2017's Mesmer. For me it combines both those albums and adds something completely left field and unexpected on top. It brings the riffs and the beefy breakdowns which are fuelled by the aggression in Marcus's lyrics but the obscure dance like nature of some of the synth sounds for me make this album really unique. One thing I will definitely say about this alum from a musical perspective is that it is intense from the  Details Matter opener to the Sleepless closer. Knowing that this is Marcus's journey through his past lyrically, the subject matter echoes eerily similar to what Phil Bozeman accomplished on Whitechapel's The Valley which was released earlier this year. This openness to such negative and traumatic life events is becoming something which is somewhat positive when it is converted into music like this. This reflects in the vocal delivery, there is so much more aggression and I think thats what makes this album so intense, going on the material displayed by the band in the music videos these songs have come from a vehemently dark place and every word is packed with so much meaning. The album is incredibly well written and I think the band have truly stretched their boundaries and it has paid off exceptionally well. Packed with raw aggression and solid riff writing I can't wait to hopefully see how some of these synths and riffs translate live.

As always with Northlane albums you can expect a massive production job. Having seen the size of the bands pedal boards in person at shows, there is a lot of things you have to get right to avoid the clashing of multiple layers and distortions. Like I say though, we expect a multi faceted, layered and expertly mixed product from Northlane and this one does not fail in anyway for me. The distortion and crunch the guitars have really emphasise the riffs and support the cleaner, more processed guitar sounds that carry the melodies above the distorted ruckus. The bass tone is thick and beefy, which again supports everything else. All the tones are created to such a high standard that you know that these guys know their gear inside and out and know how to get the absolute best out of it. The hybrid mix between processed and acoustic drums is awesome, the processed and acoustic kicks sound phenomenal and fat. Overall, I can't put my finger on it but the consistency of the production on this album is truly mesmerising (pun intended).

It will hard to push this album out of my rotation and it will be even harder for a band to knock it out my top 10 albums this year. It has everything you want from Northlane and more! An exceptional effort from everyones favourite Aussie prog. metalcore band. The timing and title couldn't be more perfect, I'd definitely storm Area 51 with this playing in my ears! Check out Alien now!

Alien - Northlane