Toxxic Project - The Secrets of Planet Helios

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Toxxic Project’s The Secrets of Planet Helios carries me across the haunted beauty of a distant planet, painting powerful imagery through intensely entangling soundscapes and engaging melodies. Toxxic Project has brought in musical guests who each contribute their talents to deepening and enriching his music. This is an album for listening to while one’s mind floats out over a strange and eerily enchanting world.

Auditory storytelling is an important aspect of The Secrets of Planet Helios’ success with me. All of the ear-grabbing layering of many well-considered synth sounds results in strong, clear images moving in my mind’s eye. All of the textures, tones and timbres weave images of fantastical landscapes unfolding as I move through them. Vast plains, craggy mountains and timeless cities all pass by in my imagination as the album plays on.

The Secrets of Planet Helios is also a superb showcase for Toxxic Project’s melodic writing. I enjoy the expressive and emotive nature of the melodies he composes. They have the ability to draw me in with their clarity and strength, filling me with deep feelings as they unfurl through the music. There’s something affecting in them that keeps my heart engaged in the album.

All of the musical collaborators on the album also bring their skills and abilities to bear on the music in a way that makes it richer and more pleasing. Whether they are co-producers like Aeronexus and Dug Masters or remixers like Max Project, Fraver, UFO 1982, Timedriver or The Morales, they each contribute to deepening and increasing the auditory impact of the music on this album. I also must mention Sinuhe Navarrete’s mixing and mastering on the album.

My Favourite Tracks Anaylzed

“Formalhaut” begins as darkly swelling bass is cut by widely gleaming arpeggios that ripple with tension as they grow in power. Flaring synth drifts threateningly as tautly glowing synth is touched by airy exhalations. A kick drum thuds as giant bass oscillates to effectively create powerful low end motion.

Drums and bass pound as brassy, medium-high synth sings a rising melody with a touch of uncertainty, along with its triumphant qualities. Heaving drums drive on as delicate sounds sail above them and the bass also slams hard. The trumpeting lead synth melody is tragedy tinged and tentative. Throbbing drums guide the track and the hi hat also bursts while a hollow, airy sound glides.

A shadowy, open-voiced arpeggio twirls as the unstoppable low end pulses and the drums press on still. Gossamer synth drifts through carrying a fragile, spaced out melody while slicing synth shifts. Air flows as huge bass growls to an end.

Pulsating, medium-high synth with a reverberating quality is joined by thudding kick drum and twisting, sparkling sounds to start “Crystal Sands” Regal synth chords add a wonderful glimmer and the kick drum drives on. Glistening, elevated synth carries a dynamic pulse above steadily oscillating bass.

Warming chords rise and the snare drum propels the track. Lightly touching, flickering synth chords add energy as oscillating bass rushes onward. Shining, trembling synth sails out smoothly before another glistening synth flickers with washing light.

The drums press on above rushing bass and the glassy lead synth sings out full chords that tremble through the music. Energy fills the music, flashing with clear light while soft-edged chords slowly move and bass swirls far below. The drums continue to move forward and silence falls.

“Dark Connection” commences as laughter rings out along with a thudding kick drum and softly hissing sounds. Steadily undulating synth tumbles and a driving bass pulse is joined by reverent sound sailing above it.

Bass rapidly oscillates, a snare drum bursts and slow, shining synth waves lap pleasingly. The kick drum thumps and snare drum leaps out as medium-high, gently glittering synth carries a plaintive melody.

There’s hurt in the main melody as the solidly throbbing bass and snare drum keep shaping the music. A hazy glow permeates the lead synth as it flows and the energetic low end of the track keeps driving onward. The wistful melodic pattern moves with the lightly touching notes and ends.

Ominous bass towers as gritty sounds swirl and powerful drums pound to open “Battle For Helios.” Huge, majestic chords swell and medium-high, radiant lead synth carries triumphant notes. Glimmering synth carries a drifting, reaching melody that pours out light as angular bass oscillates dynamically. Noble, glowing synth chords climb and flaring lead synth rises up in ear-pleasing sunlit bursts.

Drums pound on along with tremendously powerful bass that breaks into vibrating lines. Strings unfurl and the drums batter on as muscled synth chords rise. Sparkling notes slip through the music as flashing synth leaps and arpeggiates. The drums slow to half time with a cymbal clashing and the victorious chords crying out as bass oscillates. The track throbs into quiet with a deep growl.

“Tears Of Algol” starts as looming bass pulses with a dread feeling as angular, sweeping synth flashes out. Pounding, weighty drums form a steady beat as gleaming light flows from delicate, caressing synth.

I enjoy the contrast of intimidating power and galactic light n this track Shaping drums pound with dense reverberations as angular sounds sweep and gigantic bass oscillates. Glassy synth doubles the bass and silence falls.

Massive drums heave and sharp synth slices above hard-hitting bass to start “Secrets Of The Planet Helios.” The bass ramps up as whirling, raised synth and wobbling sounds flit through. A fluting sound twirls and colossal drums smoothly guide the music as a tambourine adds a metallic rattle.

Radiant synth echoes with a feather light sensation, trembling as vibrating, sounds expand. Gigantic drums push on as delicate synth echoes out, ethereally wandering, creating a sonic sensation that I enjoy. Rushing, sparkling synth moves underneath softly sailing synth with a fragile feeling.

Descending, drifting high synth tumbles and drums burst weightily as they propel the music onward with insistent energy and the distant sounds cascade and shiver like windblown sand. The track ends on the throbbing drumbeat and cosmic synth cascading.

“Crystal Sands (Max Project Remix)” opens as monumental drums burst with energy and crystalline arpeggios arc rapidly, driven by a powerful drumbeat. Max Project’s remix imbues the track with a more propulsive and energetic feeling that I find pleasing.

Winds sweep, chimes glitter and sharp synth vibrates with slicing strength as tapping percussion moves. Drums with planetary weight and throbbing bass drive below whirling arpeggios.

The main melody sweeps through, majestic above the grandeur of the drums, as wind flows past. The remix has the effect of increasing the music’s dense power and enhancing its leaping, uplifting sensations.

Mad laughter bubbles on, increasing the threat level as ominous bass flows and kick drum thuds to kick off Fraver’s remix of “Dark Connection.” I enjoy the way in which this remix creates a heavier, more dangerous feeling as it thunders and crashes. Oscillating bass imbues the remix with great power as it glides into a worshipfully flowing segment.

Rapidly shivering synth is now touched by an orchestral string-like synth melody, full of beauty and pained emotion above insistent bass and guiding drums. Nobility and elegance fill the string-like synth melody as it unfolds. A distant voice echoes above slowly pulsing drums. A heaving bass oscillation cuts through the string section as it fades in and out before silence falls along with soft synth.

“Sentinels (Timedriver remix) begins with richly rippling synth, a steady kick drum and flickering arpeggios, feeling gentler and more subdued in the remix. Arpeggios create sparkling texture as low, round sounds slip through the music. Mammoth drums throb with greater weight and twisting lead synth carries a melody skilfully evoking ancient mystery and cosmic magic above lush bass.

There’s an open air feeling as the big drums throb in slower motion and descending synth sounds fall through the music. Gargantuan bass glides and drums keep shaping the music. There’s an ethereal glide in this remix as it evokes feelings of enigmatic structures in a vast landscape as the muscled bass and drums fall silent.

Conclusion

The Secrets of Planet Helios carries me out over the surface of an exotic, enigmatic planet on a sonic journey. I feel transported from the mundane world to a place far across vast gulfs of space by the music that Toxxic Project and his guests create on the album. This is music that fills me with a sense of exploration and a feeling of adventure.