© Gert Stockmans
The huge box of “Unfold The God Man”, first album by PSYCHONAUT on the Pelagic Records label, re-released 3 times during the pandemic and selling 3,000 copies to date, proved the band to be a force to be reckoned with. These three musicians from Mechelen in Belgium are back with a fierce and long-awaited concept album proclaiming the formation of a new world through the acceptance of a new human identity. “We have always been interested in religion, spirituality and philosophy”explains the singer/guitarist Stefan DeGraef. “We meditated together, had long discussions about the nature of life, and we share a common vision. »
For now, with the release of their second album “Violate Consensus Reality” on October 28, the trio offers you a visceral journey into our collective consciousness. A journey marked by explosive riffs, captivating voices and complex but catchy compositions. An impressive album, to listen to below, which cements PSYCHONAUT as a contender for the throne of the European progressive/post-metal community.
“We distance ourselves from a system based on the idea that humanity is fundamentally bad and needs to protect itself from itself thanks to a form of hierarchy”continues From Graef about this new album by PSYCHONAUT. “By no longer subscribing to the principle that we are all separate beings in a separate, dead and useless world, we accept the vision of a new civilization rooted in the idea that we are part of a living and sacred universe. »
Comparing our current state of separation to “an island in oceans, cultivated, designed to bear unpredictable anger”, the group accompanies its denunciation with punishing riffs and strongly syncopated rhythms, gripping and guiding on a turbulent journey.
“Violate Consensus Reality” track listing:
01. A Storm Approaching
02. All Your Gods Have Gone
03. Age of Separation
04. Violate Consensus Reality
05. Hope
06. Interbeing
07. A Pacifist’s Guide To Violence
08. Towards The Edge
Line up:
Stefan De Graef – guitar/vocals
Thomas Michiels – bass/vocals
Harm Peters – drums
“Violate Consensus Reality” is not for the faint-hearted, both in concept and music, because of all the accomplishments of PSYCHONAUT to date, it is the one that contains the most complex riffs and the most technical playing. This new album represents a mad dash, from the rhythmic, neck-breaking riffs of ”A Pacifist’s Guide To Violence”, through the undulating neo-classical piano passages of ”Hope”, to the glorious finale of ”Towards The Edge”. The title track opens with the angelic voice of Stefanie Mannaerts (BRUTUS) and slowly builds to burst into an explosive sermon delivered by Colin H. van Eeckhout (AMENRA, CHVE, ABSENT IN BODY), the appearance of these two talented guests affirms the stature of PSYCHONAUT in the Belgian metal scene, and beyond.
For fans of MASTODON, RUSSIAN CIRCLES, TOOL, GOJIRA, THE OCEAN, PELICAN, HYPNO5E, CULT OF LUNA and AMENRA.