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Allt - 'Ataraxia' - Review
- Lighthouse Music
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
BAND. Proggy metalcore cult heroes of the highest order, Sweden's very own Allt return with their hugely anticipated sophomore LP Ataraxia, and this might just be one of the most divisive record this year. Promising heavyhitting newcomers just a few years ago, the band is confidently venturing into new territories as mature trailblazers, unveiling a more melodic and gentle side that was only hinted in the past. And while the purist will naturally be in salty meltdown, objectively Ataraxia is a just a truly beautiful experience and Allt's most logical path forward.
REVIEW. Fuelled by the success and near-universal love for their previous From The New World (2024), Allt decided to take the unlikeliest and yet healthiest path ahead and NOT repeat the formula. Instead, Ataraxia sees them at their most honest and vulnerable, expanding creative arrangements and intricate layering further that even before, and taking a massive leap into the unknown. The result is absolutely fantastic, made even more precious and meaningful by the inevitable discourse brought forward when risks do pay off and threaten the familiar.
SONGS. Experimentation aside, Ataraxia drops some exemplary modern metalcore ragers, from the familiar singles 'Omertà' and 'Snowblind' to the stomping opener 'New Day' and punching 'Enemy'. Signature Allt goodness on full display, we also get the faultless anthem 'Nevermind' stealing the show right from the start, 'Ultraviolet' soaring in the skies, the crucial title track acting as the LP's natural centerpiece, as well as the intimate 'Avalon' serving as its righteous finale.
OVERALL. The best thing a proggy band can do to escape overcomplicated boredom is to find the right balance. Allt have done this so masterfuly and so early in their career, Ataraxia might just become a career-defining classic, and the outrage surely points in that direction. All the noise aside, this is a near-faultless release by a band that has already established itself as one of the most exciting contemporary Swedish metal exports in just two records, so things can only get better from here.
Allt - 'Ataraxia'
Country: Sweden
Release: 31 July
Label: Century Media
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