Fraver - The Unknown Awaits Us

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Fraver’s The Unknown Awaits Us unfolds in an image rich synth tapestry that carries the listener on a journey across deep space, facing danger and darkness. The intensity is leavened by beautiful, delicate moments as Fraver weaves all the synth sounds into a richly layered whole.

Journeying through soundscapes on The Unknown Awaits Us is one of my favourite parts of the listening experience. Fraver seamlessly combines his synth palette to draw me into the shifting emotional terrain of the music while painting cosmic vistas through intertwining sound. As a result, I can close my eyes and simply allow myself to travel through the album.

Each synth sound on The Unknown Awaits Us functions within a layered sonic ecosystem. I feel that Fraver spent some time crafting each track to make the best use of his sonic choices. As the album unfolds, these interwoven sounds all come together to create music with powerful expression, creating sensations of triumph and danger. Each texture and timbre deepens the overall emotional tenor of the album.

I was especially galvanized by the more ethereal, fragile tracks on the album. Fraver manages to fill me with tranquility in those moments. I enjoy the way in which he provides a space to rest and breathe in between the more powerful and dramatic moments in the music.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Spacewalk” comes to life as a creaking, shadowy sound shifts and rapidly battering drums rush in. Angular notes climb, ramping up the track’s energy as dramatically twisting synth effectively creates growing urgency above pulsating drums. A guitar calls out in a drifting, majestically roaming pattern above bursting snare drum and slicing bass line.

The guitar adds a roving sensation before gliding out along with a delicately slipping synth pattern. Trumpeting synth echoes out in an energetic twirl as a kick drum pounds and lacerating bass shifts with agitation. Soaring synth with a brassy quality contrasts with undulating, razor-sharp bass and melancholy-tinged guitar. Flickering higher notes flit past and the track fades out.

Slowly pulsating bass shifts below cosmically sliding higher synth to open “Eternal Orion.” Snare drum bursts in above gargantuan, deadly sounding bass. Noble, slowly unfolding medium-high synth glows as it carries a melody mingling tragedy and power above guiding percussion and colossal bass.

Snarling weight moves underneath a fragile, ethereally gliding background while wide-sounding synth sings a melody that gives me a powerful impression of galactic vistas opening out around me.

A snare drum ticks along steadily and percussion trembles above the enormous bass. Gritty synth chords thunder out to add even more muscle and tragedy-tinged emotion. The low end shapes the music and the track ends with galactic drift and radiant glow.

“Master” starts as vast bass growls below shining synth with a reverent quality. Threatening bass snarls in waves as fragile synth swirls out in contrast to the seething darkness. There’s ominous power in the bass as it throbs along with heavy drums hitting hard while cutting, medium high synth shifts.

A synth string section carries a melody exuding tragic emotion and loss above the looming bass far below. Tense, nervous minor key notes wander as the battering drums push on. This track creates a pleasing terror in me. I feel like I need glance over my shoulder as minor key notes twitch through the track while bass reaches out grasping tendrils.

Elevated, worried synth adds a terrified feeling as the tension racks up further. Drums rebound and bass dominates the music. Taut synth cries out in fear above the mass below it, a crushing thing exuding dread as disembodied sounds drift. Lacerating notes add grit while higher synth slips worshipfully in contrast to the horror all around it. The track ends as intense light radiates from elevated notes.

Bursting snare drum echoes into space as steadily oscillating, sharp-edged bass pulses and the drums form a guiding beat to commence “Hyperspeed.” Roundly glowing synth carries a melody mingling wistful emotion with something heavier above thudding snare drum and pounding kick drum.

The main melody skillfully conveys loss and dynamism. Bass oscillation and thumping drums are joined by a grinding guitar slicing in gruff motion while the glistening lead synth sings more gently. The guitar adds a ferocious feeling, tearing into the track as it comes in.

There's a break to unevenly pulsing, buzzing synth. Soft-edged synth tinges the music with diffused light while the trembling bass cuts harshly. The guitar has jagged edges carrying angry energy while tendrils of brighter synth twine around it. Tom hits rapidly pulsate and the hard-edged bass falls silent.

“Singularity” starts as mysterious-sounding synth slips while sharp-edged, elevated notes climb. Looming bass creates vast weight as hard-hitting drums punch. Intensely glowing synth carries a minor key melody mingling threat and melancholy in an intriguing fashion.

Broadly glistening lead synth carries the pained, ominous melody as distant sounds shift. Drums thunder, heaving bass rumbles and flashing synth adds a victorious quality to the main melody’s ache.

Powerfully bright synth carries the mournful and dangerous sounding melody above the low end’s great mass and lurking shadowy sensations. Bass drives on and the drumbeat pounds before the track fades out.

Diaphanous synth slides past, permeating the music with a reverent feeling as clear sounds cut through to open “The Unknown Awaits Us.” Absolutely towering bass forms a slightly gritty underpinning to the elevated synths that flicker above it.

Bass begins to pulse powerfully as flaring synth carries a gently rising melody, tinged with ache but still reaching forward. Delicate chiming notes shine as the bass falls away. The track drifts through a tenderly swirling, calming segment that radiates peace as it slowly moves.

I feel relaxation fill me as the softness again is guided by powerfully throbbing synth as drums rush onward and the colossal bass well swells up below. There’s motion and acceleration as mingled pain and yearning fill the main melody while the bass grows and fills the low end as the drums drive onward.

“Starfall” begins as a hollow sound echoes into vast space. Static flows and warming synth chords grow beneath elevated sounds drifting by. Steadily guiding drums throb to add support while sharply slicing sounds descend. Full synth chords rise above the cutting sounds before bass oscillates.

Lost, open-sounding synth wanders as it effectively fills me with empty feelings. The drums accelerate along with rushing bass as hammering, metallic sounds reverberate. Drums charge forward as pipe organ like chords gleam before the bass oscillates along with a hammering sound and the track ends.

Coruscating synth rapidly roams as a kick drum thuds and a big snare drum presses on to bring “Space Gate Keeper” to life. A bass wall thunders through static hiss before the majestic main melody soars. I enjoy the way in which the main melody fills me me with a feeling of nobility and ancient pride as crushing drums and towering bass power on.

Quickly wandering synth flows before the melody rises again, exuding timelessly reverent emotion. Elevated synth tumbles before the track moves into slowly shifting, supportive chords that flow widely above rushing bass oscillation.

The snare and kick drums press onward as gritty background static in the fills the track. Orchestral string sounds come in, enhancing the gravitas and strength of the main melody. Vibrating synth cascades as gigantic sounds tower and the low end pushes forward before silence falls.

Conclusion

The Unknown Awaits Us exudes a compelling sense of adventuring through starry vaults as it moves along. Fraver takes me and guides me through the auditory world that he has created with confidence. I enjoy every step of the journey as it carries me away.