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It's no secret that UNFD have been secretly plotting to take over the world ever since their inception more than 10 years ago. Ralying the best and brightest Australia has to offer, they have been constantly barraging us with brilliant modern metal, record after record, year after year.
While slowing down a bit in 2021 to celebrate their anniversary, one of their most dangerous secret weapons Void Of Vision restlessly prepared some the most innovative and fearsome material they have ever produced in CHRONICLES II: HEAVEN. I don't always write reviews on EPs, but when I do, it is for certified bangers (insert Goldsmith meme here), and all five tracks in CHRONICLES II are pure fire, fluctuant and uncontainable as the band itself.
Void of Vision are no stranger to pushing the boundaries of contemporary metalcore, and have been doing so ever since their debut Children Of Chrone (2016) and then Hyperdaze (2019), refining their crazed, digital and dystopian sound. This year saw them take all that madness a step further, starting with the twisted single 'Dominatrix' and leading to the official premiere of one of the hottest EPs of 2022.
Led by modern metalcore's most wonderful weirdo Jack Bergin, Void Of Vision entered the second chapter of their CHRONICLES saga, following on late 2021's part one LUST that gave us the ragers 'THE LONELY PEOPLE' and 'VAMPYR'. Carrying on with their trademark downard spiral of hatred, anxiety and self-loathing, HEAVEN is darker and madder, unleasing Void of Vision's inner demons upon the world in a virtual reality, stacked with ferocious riffs, psychotics screams, electronics, and thunderous breakdowns.
The EP opens with no hesitation with 'BERGHAIN', jumping right into the troubled mind of Void Of Vision's frontman, with James McKendrick (lead guitar), Mitch Fairlie (rhythm guitar) and George Murphy (drums) unleashing their powerful blend of sleek and brutal. The next three tracks 'DOMINATRIX', 'INTO THE DARK' and 'SAINT MISERABLE' expand their eclectic sound, offering a blistering mix of savage tirades, anthemic clean choruses, djenty transitions, electronic beats, and everything inbetween.
CHRONICLES II hits hard and quick, and before you know, it delves into its rightful finale in 'ALTAR'. A standalone high point in a year full of great releases, it offers the musical, lyrical and visual climax the EP and the whole CHRONICLE series deserves. Recruiting the brilliant Hannah Greenwood from UK goth heroes Creeper, the single lets her soaring vocals and Bergin's screams crash in a whirlpool of raging modern metalcore tropes.
Whoever and wherever you are, don't miss on Void Of Vision and their beautiful dark twisted fantasy world, because it seems this will only get crazier and more brutal from here. Whether there will be more parts coming, or they pull an "Of Mice & Men" and combine all recent EPs into one full-lenght record remains to be seen, but whatever their next step is, I'm sure it will be well worth the attention and praise.
Void Of Vision - CHRONICLES II: HEAVEN
Country: Australia
Released: 29 April 2022
Label: UNFD
Tracklisting:
1. 'BERGHAIN'
2. 'DOMINATRIX'
3. 'INTO THE DARK'
4. 'SAINT MISERABLE'
5. 'ALTAR (feat. Hannah Greenwood of Creeper)'
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