Arkavoid - A New Era
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Arkavoid’s A New Era carries listeners on a journey from death to victory through the eyes of a sophisticated android named Rebecca W-26 as she struggles against the corporation by which she was created. Arkavoid layers together intriguing synth sounds to build imagery and emotion. The way in which seething darkness mixes with growing triumph adds to the narrative aspects of this album. I enjoy the sonic adventure upon which I am taken by *A New Era.
One aspect of A New Era that initially drew me in was the atmospheric nature of Arkavoid’s musical creation. He skillfully weaves together varied synth sounds and textures to paint images that are vivid and engaging. The album is filled with pervasive shadows through which moments of melancholy or triumph shine. The artist has used his musical palette to tell the story he lays out for the album in tone, texture, and timbre.
Another element ofA New Era that I enjoyed was the richly built-up auditory layers. Arkavoid carefully considered all the different musical elements required to tell the tale of Rebecca W-26 and the Arkavoid Corporation. The result is music that has depth, emotional impact, and energy. There are always intriguing auditory moments as the different synth sounds interact, adding richness to the music.
The idea of contrast also attracts me to A New Era. Arkavoid has the ability to create strongly contrasting effects within his music. For instance, he can weave together threatening darkness with mournful emotion in a way that further drives home the album's story. I like the way in which all of these sonic explorations keep me engaged with the album.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
"Under the Sleeping Sun" begins as ringing, droning notes join the sound of rain and ravens calling. The steady drone has an ominous touch as brassy synth tumbles through the music with portentous tension, flashing out above the sounds of the carrion birds. I enjoy this track’s powerful atmosphere as it unfolds.
A harsh threat fills the blaring notes that add blinding light as a dynamic pulse moves in. Tightly woven arpeggios distantly twirl as the trumpeting notes ring out with more propulsive liveliness. The music grows stronger as trumpet-like notes fill it, and the distant arpeggio slowly spins. Now, a mad laugh calls out, and silence falls.
Gigantic, echoing bass moves along with nervous, elevated synth that sparkles with soft light to start "Alive". An agitated low-end rush is joined by fragile chimes descending above the pounding kick drum as the maelstrom of notes cascades.
The drums flourish, and the dynamic beat charges forward as triumphant, shadowy notes climb with unstoppable energy above the seething low end that roils below. The tumbling notes move beneath the worried, tension-filled lead synth melody that chimes out above the explosive low end.
I am pulled in by the powerful, mournful guitar that fills the music with melancholy pain, while still bringing energy. Now luminous synth jumps through the music as electric bass snarls and the drums explode forward again.
The lead synth adds motion and pain as it gleams, and the relentless drums and bass shove the track forward. The main melody unfurls with worried radiance as the drums fade away into dark rumbles while the arpeggios agitate.
"Free Hands" commences as massive drums rebound and an angularly tumbling synth wriggles through the music. Majestic, trumpeting notes rise in the distance to create an elegiac feeling as a panpipe-like synth calls out in extended, mournful notes. The drums continue to pulsate as the drifting, fluting synth planes out with pained emotion.
A taut synth pulses evenly as the big drums explode. A digital-sounding, medium-high synth melody adds more tension while the wobbling pan pipes have a deep, unsettling quality to them. I find this track’s drama quite compelling. Haunted, high notes shiver with spectral fear as a dramatically driving series of synth chords tremble, adding nervous energy. The colossal drums continue to move in the distance as the high notes howl out with worry and a sense of impending action.
Threatening notes rumble to open "Night Hunt", creating a driving pattern. The music surges forward as darkly swirling notes coalesce into a tensely twirling melodic pattern. Fear emanates from the twisting sounds as the kick drum punches hard and the snare drums rebound with sharp clarity.
Slowly undulating, shadowy synth swirls with reaching tendrils as string-like notes cry out to create drama. Elevated, nervous notes cascade together and paint superb images of a desperate rush through darkness to escape. The drums are a ferocious force as the rising synth turns the screws, creating an atmosphere that bursts with danger leaping from behind every obstacle.
The track rushes onward with rising terror as the fulminating notes fall over each other while the kick drum hits hard. Sharp-edged, string-like synth vibrates above the worried sounds in the distance as the track comes to an end.
"Memories from Nothing" starts as deeply resonant, rapidly vibrating synth cascades and ragged notes match the pattern with cutting weight. Delicate chimes, ghostly and haunting, drift through the music with a lonely melodic pattern to which I am drawn. The background has a steady pulse as twinkling notes chime out, creating stress.
Rounded notes call out with melancholy depth as a guitar calls out with aching drama. The drums punch as the guitar rumbles in urgent lines while the gentler background floats and the strings cry out with mournful emotion. A sharply grinding sound moves in the distance as the chimes sparkle and then fall quiet.
A threatening, relentless pounding metallic beat starts "Worms March". Rapidly lacerating sounds slice through with deadly intent as the pounding in the distance tramps on. The shadowy notes cry out as the thumping is unstoppable.
Quick bursts of metallic notes effectively add a sense of impending doom as the drums and bass relentlessly slam. The ominous sounds increase in power as they shift, and now raised, shining synth carries a minor key melodic pattern that drives home the energetic yet dangerous feeling of the track.
Quickly swirling, hollow synth notes and a rapidly smashing drumbeat that coalesce into a madly rushing whole as "Red Dead Dance" commences. The snare drum kicks in with fearful energy as the unstoppable drums are joined by darkly twisting synth as bass throbs.
The track is propelled forward with seemingly boundless strength. The melody that floats in creates terrified, spectral sensations that I find engaging. The drums strike hard as laser-like sounds slice.
Deep breaths are taken, and again the track leaps forward with massive motion, charging onward without any sense of obstacles. The raised notes descend with a lost feeling, and the raging storm below continues until the track ends.
Colossal background synth intertwines as a bouncing drum and bass pulse opens "New Era". There's a swinging quality to the low end as the medium-high, unsettled synth spins in a steadily revolving pattern and the bass descends with twilit energy. A steadily twirling synth pattern creates motion as the deadly serious darkness descends in the distance.
Now the percussion drops out as an electric bass wall entwines. A broad-sounding, glimmering synth carries a melody mingling yearning and uplifting emotion in a way that draws me in. Glistening notes add illumination and further lift the music’s mood.
A sense of possibility and triumph emanates as the guitar joins the synths. A feeling of victory permeates the track now, contrasting with the darkness of earlier moments. Trumpeting notes ring out, evoking achievement and progress as the drums batter. The track ends with a sense of nobility.
Conclusion
A New Era is a darkly powerful, ultimately uplifting auditory adventure that transports listeners through bleak landscapes to rebirth and victory as it unfolds.
