Studies for a Vortex media report 3

Third review on "Studies for a Vortex" at The Sound NotTthe Word . Thank you for the support.

Studies for a Vortex is the soundtrack to a nightmare. Static flickers in and out from your vision, whilst ominous footsteps thud throughout the abandoned factory you find yourself trapped within. The rusted machinery continues to stutter and growl with the remnants of life, menacing in the extreme, whilst something – something – marches relentlessly onwards towards you. The first album from Metadevice is an example of how industrial, dark ambient, and the most ominous side of drone can combine into something truly haunting and powerful, that’s as uncomfortable to listen to as it is captivating.
There’s a slightly retro vibe to a lot of Studies for a Vortex that recalls the 80’s, when the aforementioned genres were really finding their distinctive forms. The DNA of the likes of Einsturzende Neubauten and Skinny Puppy is clear throughout, both in mentality and end result. This is the sound of Western, capitalist civilization taken to extremes and collapsing in on itself, the throbbing beats like the dying heartbeat of some great, wounded beast. Vocals, ranging from spoken word to more typically aggressive shouts, help add a more overtly human aspect to the record, and give it an immediacy and something close to accessibility that can often be lacking in such extreme music. There’s also some incredibly strong basslines, most notably on ‘Hypernormalized’, which has that same balance of hooks, industrial noise-based violence, and politically-charged commentary as Skinny Puppy did at their prime.
For all that though, Studies for a Vortex is ultimately – and intentionally – a challenging album. It is not meant to be listened to idly, and to do so is close to impossible – music this powerful and strong practically demands attention, grabbing hold of it and not letting go. That said, it can sometimes stray a little too far into the over-dramatic, most notably on ‘White Jazz’, which comes across like it’s intended for a soundtrack for a film that doesn’t exist (a description I normally hate, but given the naration and flow, it’s the only one that works).
Such moments are minor mis-steps when considered in the context of the whole album, though. Studies for a Vortex is a deeply unsettling and captivating album, where the vocals help give the record the extra character and personality to help make it memorable.
Studies for a Vortex is available on CD and digital download via Bandcamp, and on CD via Malignant Records.