Progressive tech death band Artificial Brain will be unveiling their new studio album “Antillia” through Profound Lore on November 13th. That record, their first since 2022’s self-titled opus, is described in a new press release as being, ‘nine tales of cosmic woe repeatedly invoking images of invasion and penetration: strange diseases filter down from the sky; pollutants corrupt the water and soil; medical nanobots trigger cancerous plagues; alien subversives undermine terrestrial governments. Again and again, humans are defiled and transformed as they struggle to navigate the sea of stars.’
That same press release further went on to state:
”Antillia‘ brings a new degree of urgency to this distinctive formula. It is their shortest and most aggressive album to date; its blastbeat-laden cacophony is by turns punctuated by riotous solos and shrouded by a nimbus of hazy textures. Despite its ferocious clamor, Antillia’s primary emotional affect is melancholic, even wistful. A sense of loss and surrender permeates the record, most strikingly articulated by its title track’s ode to a homeworld irretrievably abandoned to the void: ‘Was it ever real? Was it ever real?’ For Artificial brain, the future has ceased to serve as a repository for optimistic dreams. It is here, now, in all its horror, visiting itself upon our bodies and minds, whether we like it or not.’
You don’t have to rely solely on words to envision what the group have in store on this new outing however, as the first single “Quantum Malignancies” is now newly streaming below. The band’s bassist/vocalist Samuel Smith said of it:
I am excited to be releasing ‘Quantum Malignancies‘ first because I think this song is a good reflection of both the change and continuity in our sound on ‘Antillia‘. The track opens with a mess of guttural vocal noise courtesy of Paulo Paguntalan, who has featured on all of our albums, and it contains a characteristically wistful arpeggiated section at its midpoint. Ian’s mix and the contributions of our new members, Mike and Alex, have imbued this material with a new sense of immediacy, though. The frantic energy of this song culminates in dueling guitar solos, which are another key part of this record’s distinct identity.”
As for the album, vocalist Mike Paparo (also of Inter Arma, Dreamless Veil, etc.), offerred:
“On ‘Antillia‘, I wanted the lyrics of the record to reflect the human struggle with the universe and all of its horrors and unknowns. With ‘Quantum Malignancies‘, humankind is presented with a technology that could positively alter society and its future. However, this technology becomes perverted and transmuted by the grifters and plutocrats in power, leading to a massive, calculated depopulation. A cold, heartless narrative set to cold, unforgiving music.”
Ian Jacyszyn (Miasmatic Necrosis, Aeviterne) oversaw the tracking and mixing of the album, while Colin Marston of Krallice, Gorguts, etc. fame took on mastering it.
“Antillia” track listing:
01 – “The Wandering Star Prion“
02 – “Quantum Malignancies“
03 – “Obsidian Agents“
04 – “Deciphering The Anachronistic Tongues Of The Relic Satellites“
05 – “Planet: Carrion“
06 – “Against The Furthest Reaches Of The Light“
07 – “Cosmic Death Church“
08 – “Solar Ark“
09 – “Antillia (In Chromatic Aberration)“
For pre-orders, head over to linktr.ee/artificialbrain.
