Album Review: Blind Equation – Death Awaits (Prosthetic Records)

Chicago, Illinois emotional cybergrind mainstay Blind Equation will release their much-anticipated sophomore full-length album ‘Death Awaits’ on September 15th via Prosthetic Records. Here, Blind Equation plummets the depths of self-loathing, interpersonal betrayal, anxiety and death itself.

The epitome of a ‘grower’, getting to know Blind Equation over this year with single releases has revealed one of metal’s most challenging bands. A band that really can be called unique and a band likely to polarise in extreme ways. Part genius, part madness, all kinds of captivating. The more time spent in the company of Blind Equation, the more impressive their output becomes. Hence the term ‘grower’, where the most significant aspect that comes through is how expressive the band can be.

Still not sure just what the hell ‘cybergrind’ is? Stop questioning it and get on board. Death Awaits and it’s the title track that introduces the madness. The instant wacked out fusion of 8-bit chiptunes, eurotrance, black metal, and grind still shocks. Purely because there is nothing quite like this out there. It’s one of the less abrasive offerings, short and sweet, with some fantastic melody.

The pace quickens and a sinister edge comes through on the manic speedrunning life, before Blind Equation’s imagination goes into overdrive with you betrayed the ones you loved. Blind Equation seem intent on upending any expectations a listener might have, but the more you listen, the more it all starts to make sense.

Sort of…

Ear-splitting keys, the strong video-game vibes, the freakish effects, and the screeching vocals. It’s cybergrind. It’s Blind Equation and hopefully you’ll love it too. Even if it takes a while to really connect.

It doesn’t get any less peculiar with fade away, choke, and never getting better. There’s classic Castlevania/F-Zero vibes (is that just me?), uber-trance beats, frenzied blackened nastiness, heart-wrenching melodies, and grinding chaos amongst each offering. Blind Equation continue to amaze and horrify in equal measures. The latter might be the catchiest track of all.

It’s guest time as rat jesu appears on killing me and deathtrippa appears on suffering in silence. The former is quite a melodic sounding song, albeit filtered through their usual bout of chaotic noise. The effects are as jarring as always, and the grinding intensity is rawer than ever. Whereas the latter is almost anthemic, or at least as anthemic as this kind of music can get. Blind Equation and deathtrippa work really well together, and it’s much more notable collaboration.

Finally, there is warmth, an aptly named track as the 8-bit melodies are attractive and earnest. Working well with the more frenetic aspects of the track. One of the more expertly structured tracks. Then along comes the ‘epic’ of the album, the last glimpse of me. Epic, because it is nearly five-minutes long and the longest track by over a minute. Epic, because it’s more elaborate, more poignant, more chaotic, and more expressive than ever. It’s a fantastic closing track.

What a wonderful surprise this album is. Having struggled with a lot of the singles, but finding myself fascinated with what they were doing, it’s incredibly joyful to have fallen in love with this record. There’s no denying the polarising effect of it, but I’m convinced the more time spent with this music, the more it takes hold. Every band wants to be unique, and few actually are. Blind Equation are one of them, and Death Awaits needs to be given a chance.

Blind Equation – Death Awaits Track Listing:

1. death awaits
2. speedrunning life
3. you betrayed the ones you loved
4. fade away
5. choke
6. never getting better
7. killing me (ft. rat jesu)
8. suffering in silence (ft. deathtrippa)
9. warmth
10. the last glimpse of me

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