Review: “Theory Of Mind” by Aeffect

They say that idle hands are the devils playground and so gargantuan beast Aeffect was birthed from the ashes of Sarpanitum and Xerath by multi instrumentalist and vocalist Mark Broster and drummer Mike Pitman, cathartically conjuring a punishing journey through notions of ambition, purpose, legacy, exploitation, neglect and despair with debut album “Theory Of Mind”. Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Buster Odeholm (Humanity’s Last Breath, Vildhjarta, Reflections) who is also said to bring his signature monstrous tone creation, the record runs to eight cuts of bleak dissonant down-tuned guitars as the pair forge the darkest kind of Progressive Technical Metal…

On paper promising dark treasures beyond your wildest dreams, the album begins with “Patronage” and the haunting atmospheric introduction doesn’t disappoint. That goes on to underpin the sound as the the oxygen is sucked out of the surroundings and  the bludgeoning of DJent fuelled rhythmic debauchery begins. An unmistakeable Odeholm guitar tone delivers an almighty weight of bone crushing sound and combined with the rage of Broster and power of Pitman, the promise is delivered with the first cut alone. A gigantic monster that dredges the ocean bed in search of solace, this one is reminiscent of “Via” era Volumes for sheer impact alone. Another tsunami of percussive pummelling ignites the fire of “Retraction“, the rumbling bass threatening movement of tectonic plates before a burst of Death Metal blasting and a caustic verse feels like the plot twist in Sixth Sense. Short lived, that makes way for a return to the the earlier blunt force traumas, a whispered moment making way for more fiery vocals. The intricacies of the guitar work are astounding, a layer beneath the main riffs giving another dimension to the sound and paying dividends in the longevity of the record as a whole. After two disturbing chapters “Emergent Behaviour” opens the floodgates to plague and pestilence with a sinister menacing DJent riff dragging you by the hair kicking and screaming into a black hole of oblivion. Broster twists and contorts vocally, his bark that of a wrathful demon and eerily reminiscent of JS Clayden on “Industrial” era Pitchshifter as he roars over the hellscape he has created. The sense of impending doom is inescapable by the time “Leading to Decay” springs to life like a re-animated corpse. Fear Factory inspired riffs rise to the surface as the blood begins to boil with the sense of tension before its cruelly cut for an ambient moment of clarity mid track that feels like the protagonist has realised that the serial killer is watching them. The transitions are as slick as the musicianship, the ultimate bleak horror of the apocalypse exposed for all to witness.

After such a brilliantly traumatic and violently turbulent quartet of cuts there is no room for any other moment of weakness or mindless self indulgence as the album title track “Theory Of Mind” takes hold like a boa constrictor around the throat. Another haunting night terror of an introduction leads into the kind of bludgeoning sounds that are used to keep suspects in a sleep deprived state ahead of the next wave of torture in a Siberian prison hell. Staccato riff breaks and jackhammer footwork are like a drill to the skull with Broster begging for trephination and yet the body blows keep coming as the juggernaut annihilates everything in its path. The complexity of the guitar work on display is not to be underestimated with “Manifest” being right up there amongst the finest of them. It’s not flamboyant or virtuoso but instead dark and disturbing to the point of battery acid nausea with textures and depth that is something special… and that’s before the Death Metal permeations tear a hole in the fabric of the space time continuum. There are moments buried in the mix that sound like they’re cut from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick, that eerie sense that something wicked this way comes being inescapable. “Acceptance” has a clever false ending that breaks up the tidal wave of blood and thunder like a chink of light the a black cloud but the darkness soon swirls overhead once more like moving in concentric circles. Brutal and horrific, the sheer intensity of this one is like a forest fire with winds fanning the flames. The curtain is brought down by the bone snapping “Dematerialise” which cleaves flesh from bone with a dirge laden riff and fire breathing vocals that gargle blood with venomous spit and snarl. By the end you may find yourself staring into the abyss as you wonder what you’ve just heard. There can be no doubt that Buster Odeholm was the perfect person to handle this album in the studio, he’s given it an extra certain something that has left Aeffect a monster with sharper blades but equally as bloodthirsty… [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Patronage
2. Retraction
3. Emergent Behaviour
4. Leading to Decay
5. Theory of Mind
6. Manifest
7. Acceptance
8. Dematerialise

“Theory Of Mind” by Aeffect is out 2nd June 2023 with pre-orders available over at bandcamp.