Review: “Angel Killer Zero” by Diamond Construct

Having put themselves as well as the town of Taree in New South Wales Australia on the map with their career to date, Diamond Construct have long been a band threatening to break free of the chains of their homeland and go truly international. After all, statistics don’t lie and the Tech-Metal infused Nu-Metalcore quartet who have been an ongoing concern since 2015, they have two cuts in “Psychosis” and “Hit It back” which together have surpassed 2 million streams on Spotify alone. This time around, the band put their faith in the legendary Lance Prenc (Polaris, Thornhill, Alpha Wolf) to mix and master “Angel Killer Zero“, a third album that sees them explore themes connected to feelings of loneliness, heartbreak, childhood trauma and substance abuse, taking a very real and vulnerable look into navigating the reality of life…

While the subject matter behind the record maybe deep and meaningful, for Diamond Construct it has always been all about the way in which the message has been delivered and “Hashira” is the kind savage start that says “We’re back!” like an iron bar to the skull. Groove laden Nu-Metalcore, it mashes together glitchy nuanced programming with heavy guitars to create an science fiction soundscape of artificial sounding vinyl scratching as Kynan Groundwater allows some of his dark thoughts to escape his cranium. An appetite whetting three minutes, it sets the tone for the Nu-Metalcore anthem that is “Jynx“, a powerhouse of pulverising percussion from Liam Newman that takes a page from the book of Alpha Wolf and scribbles all over it before place it neatly back where it was taken from. The HUGE breakdown that underpins the screams of the final third is what makes the track a stone cold winner while confirming resistance is futile. Taking a heavier approach to what KoRn did with “The Path of Totality” or “Suicide Season – Cut Up!” by Bring Me The Horizon, the cyberpunk aesthetic is rich in “Neon” as Groundwater twists and contorts offering up raps, brooding spoken words and screams throughout. Diamond Construct have a dark energy coursing through their veins during their live shows and they’ve captured that in the performance levels. Summersaulting once more into something more guitar driven, the brutal staccato riff breaks from Braden Groundwater  during “Zodiac Memories” are a reminder of just how heavy this quartet can be. Arguably the heaviest track not only on the record but in the bands discography as a whole, it changes the dynamic with a real intensity, grit and integrity to it.

Flavours of “Alien” era Northlane are found within “Faded” as Kynan Groundwater offers some aching clean vocal parts between the heavier parts, building a melody into a track that is still anvil heavy. It could even be renamed “Blackout!” with the repeated scream of lyric resonating over another breakdown, the band pushing the listener to their limits with the experimentation. On paper this shouldn’t sound this good but the key is the ball of fury that at the beating black heart of it, the band never turning their back on the Tech-Metal inspired guitar work, so they add to their sound rather than change it. The feel of a late 90’s Rap Metal crossover is captured perfectly within “Switchblade OST“, buried under the weight of the futuristic Diamond Construct sound. It leaves the feeling of two songs mashed together with a screamed mid section over bouncy guitars and is very much another lethal dose of venom while confirming that anything goes for the Australians. Another brute of a track “Delirium” is punishment beating of Deathcore guitars and ear-splitting unclean vocals, the Nu-Metal electronic replacement vinyl scratching giving the only respite. It almost feels like Hugh Jackman, in character as the hacker from Swordfish, took the steams of the track and spat the electronics all over it. More? Oh there is more. “Hell Inside You” maintains the intensity while bringing in some almost ethereal female vocals, the EDM element putting bounce in the mosh pit. As musicians, the band have mastered the art of drawing the listener into a sonic lull before slapping them in the face with as they step out of it, something which means that on the first few spins of any of these tracks there are times when they catch you completely off guard, in a good way.

The edge of the seat was made for “I Don’t“, an adrenaline fuelled combination of vicious uncleans, 90’s breakbeats and glitch guitars. Kynan Groundwater sounds like a beast from the black depths with his relentless throat splitting attack, while a nasty bassline from Alex Ford gives this sonic assault on the senses another point of difference. Pushing the boundaries a little further “Clickbait” continues the violent turbulence with a rich aching melody and delicate clean vocal that has the heavier elements wrapped around its throat like a Boa Constrictor. A track that lends itself to a melodic re-imagining further down the road, it’s diverse and interesting with a clear story to tell and may even land up on a film score for a summer blockbuster. One more time with feeling? “You Want That Scene Shit” is one that feels almost like a summary of the whole album in one easy to swallow capsule. Hyperactive, brutal and laced with electronics, the bands signature faster pacing ensure that this futuristic violent show of emotion is not only captivating but immersive as well. How do you go about getting this album on a Dolby Atmos sound system in a cinema? That would be incredible! [9/10]

Track Listing

1. Hashira
2. Jynx
3. Neon
4. Zodiac Memories
5. Faded
6. Switchblade OST
7. Delirium
8. Hell Inside You
9. I Don’t
10. Clickbait
11. You Want That Scene Shit

“Angel Killer Zero” by Diamond Construct is out 26th April 2024 via Greyscale Records / Pale Chord