Review: “Hyperdaze” by Void Of Vision

After the highly impressive entrance into cathartic writing that was their “Disturbia” EP and a run of shows that took Melbourne Metalcore quartet (vocalist James Bergin, guitarist and clean vocalist James McKendrick, guitarist Mitch Farlie and drummer George Murphy) toured the Globe, including appearing at London’s iconic Camden Underworld with Miss May I. That was January 2018 and since a pair of stand alone singles in “Kill All My Friends” and a cover of “Psychosocial” by Slipknot have been just a drop in the ocean. Until now. Appearing on the European leg of the “Alien” Tour with Northlane, it’s time for “Hyperdaze” from Void Of Vision.

A simple and effective 42 second atmosphere and tone setting for the mind of the listener, “Overture” is melodic breathing space of subtlety that is broken instantly but the bombastic bounce of DJent riffage that is “Year of the Rat”. Some vinyl scratch work is buried in the mix of the guitar work with the odd break for melody and programming that underpins the soaring clean vocals it’s a the perfect split between a hug and a slap in the face. Bergin’s vocals are as caustic as you’d expect while McKendrick’s cleans are simply achingly beautiful. “Babylon” roars into life with a running drum pattern and some nihilistic lyrics while pile driving home the DJentisms with some glorious slow downs and and programmed atmospherics. Whether it’s an anti religion or an anti someone forcing their philosophy down your throat sentiment, the vocals are as aggresively cutting as we’ve heard from Bergin. The polyrhythmic Tech-Metal riff of “If Only” wastes no time in getting going with some industrial notes in the programming adding a sinister tone to its adrenaline rush. Avoiding the trap of slowing down for the clean vocal bridge and introducing some more traditional Metalcore groove and an unheard of solo, it’s a real point of difference that shines as a single.

Pallette cleansing with a We Came As Romans inspired introduction before returning to those big hitting riffs, “Slave To The Name” is a fine interplay between the aggression and angst and the beauty in the melody. Adding short passages of synths and dark moody programming to the mix with the interlude of “Adrenaline” is an interesting change that splits the album in half. It’s 91 seconds comes over like a remix and acts the clear aside the earlier tunes well. It could be on the aforementioned Northlane album. The pure self loathing nihilistic lyrics of “Hole In Me” hit as hard as the riffs and the programmed breakbeats take things to a thunderous new level. If you put a Vein track on half speed, it would sound like this. “Kerosene Dream” features the finest kit work of the album with George Murphy laying down a blast beat passage and some pummelling thunderous footwork around the serious groove riffs. A buried electronic pattern sounds like the radar system of a submarine tracking a sea beast.

Adding an icy spoken word with an autotune or programmed edge to replace those cleans “Decay” has a hard hitting main riff that piles breakdowns upon breakdowns as it stomps on your head. As much as it is a pit starter, it’s also a brutal unclean sing-a-long of epic proportions. If DJent did Black Metal, then the blast beat heavy introduction to “Splinter” would be it. Hitting like a meat tenderising hammer it’s a cut with will have After The Burial turning their heads. DJent groove bounce for days, broken glass caustic vocals from Bergin’s inner darkness, it has more in common with Emmure than anything we’ve heard from them before. Saving arguably the best until last with the album title track “Hyperdaze” is a monster of a tune that summarises the album as a whole sonically in a breathless adrenaline rush of Tech infused Metalcore. As if on his knees roaring into the microphone “My final words are deafening” screams Bergin over and over as the song and album comes to an end, falling into a white noise of programming before dying gracefully. Void of Vision have become the formidable force that they had previously hinted at with everything set to maximum, “Hyperdaze” is an experience not to be missed that grows on your with multiple listens. [8/10]

Track listing

1. Overture
2. Year of the Rat
3. Babylon
4. If Only
5. Slave to the Name
6. Adrenaline
7. Hole In Me
8. Kerosene Dream
9. Decay
10. Splinter
11. Hyperdaze

“Hyperdaze” by Void Of Vision is out now via UNFD