Album Review: Ixion – Evolution (Finisterian Dead End)

Atmospheric doomsters, Ixion, return with their new concept album, Evolution, set for release on the 25th of October via Finisterian Dead End.

Evolution arrives four years after Ixion’s critically acclaimed album, L’Adieu aux Etoiles. It is a three-part concept album, with all three parts having been released as individual EPs over the course of 2024. The album concept explores the evolution of mankind, its interactions with androids, and the rise of post-humanism. The first chapter, Extinction, released in April, delves into humanity’s struggle with mortality in a world dominated by rising android technology. Restriction, released in June, shifts focus to the constrained existence of robots and androids, emphasizing their will to emancipate. The final chapter, Regeneration, set for release on the 18th of October, just before the complete works, imagines a future where human consciousness is transferred into new biotechnological bodies.

Ixion formed in 2004 as a solo project by main composer and multi-instrumentalist Julien Prat and carved out a special place within the doom scene, with their singular blend of ambient/electronic music and atmospheric doom metal, drawing inspiration from science-fiction. Ixion formed in 2004 in Pontivy, Rennes, becoming a duo when Yannick Dilly joined with Julien Prat a few years into existence. They released their debut album in 2011 titled To The Void and really announced themselves with that gathering praise from critics, listeners and award nominations. 2015 saw the release of Enfant de la Nuit, 2017 saw the release of Return before L’Adieu aux Etoiles came in 2020. Taking us all the way up to 2024 and Evolution.

Evolution comes with a whopping 16 tracks on it though many are relatively short so the total run time isn’t too scary, at around 65 minutes in total. That’s still a hefty output by today’s standard though so you are definitely getting your money’s worth. The first 5 tracks here make up the Extinction EP of which we have already reviewed so rather than repeat myself, go here to read about those songs. I’ll just summarise what I said in the review by repeating that the 5 tracks were all intensely engaging and really delivered the concept well. I felt transported into their environment and completely engrossed in the emotions and atmosphere. My favourite track at this stage was The Weight of Ignorance, but it was a close call as I couldn’t find fault anywhere on the release.

I didn’t get time to look at the other two EPs properly, and I guess part of me felt no pressure to listen to them as I knew the full album was coming out. Is that a bad marketing move? I don’t know. I guess there is a danger that maybe some will listen to the EPs, so already have the full album and don’t bother with getting it, or they don’t bother with the EPs as they know the album is coming. Anyway, either way I guess you get to consume Ixion’s music so maybe it doesn’t matter. On we go with the newer, to me, stuff starting with tracks from Restriction covering the next 5 tracks.

Ixion had stated that the feel of this second section of Evolution was to deliver a more electronic approach to doom metal, heavily influenced by ’70s-’80s ambient electronic music, synth wave, and sci-fi classics like Blade Runner. In that they definitely deliver right from the off with The Laws Of Life. It’s popping synth sounds and echoing vocals conjure up visions of neon cities. Breaking the Code follows straight in continuing the theme and feel but with a bit more darkness coming through thanks to the riff and drums that add structure to the otherwise ambient sounds. Vocals take a turn towards darkness with a nice layered sound and plenty of meaty growls. The transitions from this darker vibe, to the synth is really interesting in a song where the percussion, and an ending solo really raise the bar.

A Chimeric Dream Part II is a longer track and brings a bit of everything from Ixion to the party. Basing itself mainly in the subtle, almost soothing synth and gentle vocals, the atmosphere is strong here. The track evolves through with different moments of guitars, or drums adding darkness and what sometimes feels like desperation. It’s gloomy, despite the soothing style with some really interesting electronic sounds combining nicely with the guitars, drums and vocals to create an immersive sound. Ixion continue delivering quality and variety on this part of Evolution, Restriction, with The Advent. Another track that throws a lot at you but makes it work.

The popping electronic sounds combine with slow resounding drums and drawn out guitars to create a gentile feel but with harsh vocals suggesting something darker. Musically, it slows down further and brings in some really neat contrasting vocals that trade off between some very deep growled vocals and the echoing cleans. There are some really neat guitar lines and melodies intertwining with an effect on either the guitar, or some electronic button that sounds like a guitar that screams 80’s. This part of Evolution closes out with Turning Point. A song that instantly grabs you with it’s quite astonishing combination of synth and guitars in it’s intro. I love that sound. It continues to do what Ixion do, bringing multiple sections and elements into the song with strong vocal harmonies, growls, cleans, guitars, drums and tons of ambience.

We move into the final part of this review, with the six tracks that form the Regeneration EP, getting underway with Give Up The Ghost And Pen Your Eyes. It’s really nice to see how prominent and natural the guitar sounds here with a particularly catchy melodic solo. There are still plenty of synth and atmospheric elements too, don’t worry, but it seems more balanced with some neat drum patterns all creating a solid foundation for the vocals to ring out from. Second Birth and The First Outing continue the trend of having a bit more of the traditional doom sound prominent. Second Birth combining plenty of ambient sounds and synth but growing in power before the guitars become a foreground instrument. The First Outing really delivering with punchy drums and riffs atop a bed of synth and with dual vocals, mixing growls and cleans and harmonising fantastically throughout.

Shades of Time has a softer, melancholic start, lulling you in with a gentle catchy melody before turning into something quite grandiose. The backing synth stays prominent adding structure but there is an elevation in sounds that combines again with the dual vocals to create quite an epic soundscape. It feels important and as it transforms into a guitar solo, quite emotional too. We reach the end of Evolution, almost, with the penultimate track, Necropolis. Style wise, after listening to 13 tracks, there are very few surprises but it is still impressive how Ixion manage to utilise a similar overall theme and many similar components across a very long album, yet manage to make each song standout and sound unique.

Necropolis delivers another really cool contrast at the start with growled vocals over a much higher toned synth sound. The vocals trade off nicely between the different styles and there is a meaty percussion through the early stages of the track. It flows nicely, is easy to listen to and still conjures up images that do justice to the overall concept. I like the gentler slow down that sees the drums tail off and the song move to a more subtle synth. It works even better because when the track grows back in, it comes back dark and dangerous with a threatening riff and harsher vocals. It’s a great song, one of the best on Evolution for me and it’s neat that I am still getting excited by the 14th track.

Evolution arrives at it’s final chapter with the track In Search Of The Absolute and in now way are Ixion done with delivering quality yet. This final track is a really special track because it delivers closure on the concept and that is a tough thing to get right. Ixion pull all of their considerable skillset together to create a track that combines everything we have heard so far in a song that excites, drips in emotion, feels somehow equally sad, yet with moments of optimism to create a lasting memory for us listeners.

Ixion have shown an immense array of talent across Evolution. The album may be three different parts but they come together well and the storytelling aspect is second to none. You may struggle a bit if you aren’t a fan of synth as Ixion are heavy users of it but if you can get onboard with it, you will find an album of intelligence and creativity. Songs flow well together and the atmosphere created gives strong visuals while you are listening. There is a ton of feeling too. Vocals are strong and varied, often sounding machinelike through effects which gives the concept more depth.

Evolution is an intelligent piece of art showcasing excellence in songwriting and storytelling abilities where the listener is pulled into the world they have conceptualised. Preorder your copy of Evolution, by Ixion, from their Bandcamp, here.

Ixion Links

Website – Bandcamp – Facebook – Instagram – YouTube – Spotify – Finisterian Dead End