Album Review: Insolvency – Illusional Gates (Self Released)

French metal outfit Insolvency will release their sophomore album ‘Illusional Gates’ on February 21st, 2022. Insolvency’s latest offering sees the band look at the ever-changing, technological world we live in today, analysing a society addicted to technology and instant gratification.

Using their music as a form of therapy, Insolvency have packed this album with real-life feeling and thought. Depression, rage, mental health and daily anxieties; no subject is taboo and Insolvency passionately express themselves with a heavy metal album that blurs the lines of the ‘core’ sound.

Across twelve massive tracks, Insolvency showcase a brutal style of riffing, energetically chaotic percussion, massive melodies and vocals that are as contemptuous as they are comforting. Throw in a ton of hooks and you have an album that really explodes with life.

A banging start with Blindness and Torn Away Inside leads to The Endless Maze. Which sees Fit for A King’s Ryan Kirby lend his aggressive vocal style to help turn this track into even more of a powerful rager.

A twinkly, cinematic, and hip-hop-infused slice of melody allows room for a short breather with Mirage. Before the title track, Last Call, Another Fate and Stranger World come along to bury listeners under a mountain of heavy melodic groove and splendour. All equally as thrilling as each other, Insolvency are connecting on a deeper level here.

Though it’s a time for another guest vocalist, one who knows how bring aggression to the party. Thy Art is Murder’s CJ McMahon pops in to add some brutality to the particularly epic sounding Smother the Candle.

With even more blistering power, Insolvency tear through Oversight with serious aplomb before going super-mellow on the short, penultimate track Afterlight. Leading to the massive finale of Fade and Flow. A closer that mixes synthy groove with no-nonsense metal heaviness and layers powerful melodies throughout to ensure Illusional Gates goes out with a big bang.

Insolvency – Illusional Gates Full Track Listing:

1. Blindness
2. Torn Away Inside
3. The Endless Maze (Featuring Ryan Kirby)
4. Mirage
5. Illusional Gates
6. Last Call
7. Another Fate
8. Stranger World
9. Smother the Candle (Featuring CJ McMahon)
10. Oversight
11. Afterlight
12. Fade and Flow

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