Album Review: Playgrounded – The Death of Death (Pelagic Records)

Greece has spawned countless instances of criminally underrated music acts in diverse genres ranging from black metal to electronic to avant garde pop music, and the sophomore album of modern progressive metal act Playgrounded titled ‘The Death of Death’ released on the 18th of March (Pelagic Records) is yet another striking example.

The dawning realisation that The Death of Death is an album that can’t have a simple genre label attached to it comes sooner than expected. Within the first track, The Swan, in fact. Where Playgrounded reveal that what qualifies as progressive metal isn’t necessarily what you think. Such imagination, such depth and such challenging music will leave all who hear this opener, mouth agape. A melding of unusual melodic rhythms with flashes of intense metal bursts and carefully constructed effects and atmospheres, this track is not one thing or the other. It’s baffling but fascinating.

Get used to this feeling as Playgrounded are only getting started.

Rituals follows that and sees the band create uncomfortable and moody atmosphere that builds in dark intensity. The palatable sense that this track could explode at any stage builds and builds, the guitars thrumming and vibrating away, until Playgrounded are ready to turn it up an extra notch or two. A later drop into a more relaxed atmospheric segment gives them the opportunity to build things back up again. Another captivating challenge but one with a bit more accessibility to it.

The title track and Tomorrow’s Rainbow make up the middle portion of the album and sees Playgrounded continue to confound and delight in equal measures. The former, a blend of dark industrial groove and rock that feels both dirty and clean at the same time. Easily one of the most threatening tracks on the album, regarding atmosphere. While the latter features a similar flavour of industrial but has a more ‘chilled’ focus with the electronica being a bit dreamy and the vocals scaled back. Though unsurprisingly, as it goes on, this track transforms and becomes something of a heavy metal beast.

The Road Out of the Flood then steps up to remind you that Playgrounded follow the path of one. No matter if you think you’ve got a handle on what their progressive metal sound is, a track like this upends it all. Calm, moody, relaxed, tense, soft and strange, heavy, and relatable… the seemingly opposing forces end up working together in a way few could expect.

Before, Our Fire ensures two things. Firstly, that this is one of the most unforgettable albums of 2022. Secondly, that many, many repeated listens are the only way you’re going to fully grasp just what Playgrounded are fully capable of.

You can close your mouth now.

Playgrounded – The Death of Death Full Track Listing:

1. The Swan
2. Rituals
3. The Death of Death
4. Tomorrow’s Rainbow
5. The Road Out of the Flood
6. Our Fire

Links

Bandcamp | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pelagic Records