Fractal Generator – Convergence
Release Date: 7th June 2024
Label: Everlasting Spew Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Technical Death Metal
FFO: Zyklon, Morbid Angel, Saevus Finis.
Review By: Andy Spoon
Canadian trio Fractal Generator has been teasing the release of their upcoming album Convergence for a couple of months now with a couple of limited releases on their social media. Fans seem to have been impressed with the recent batch of spoilers, as have I, so I was chomping at the bit to get a chance to hear the entire album before the rest of the civilized world; something I was not disappointed with. This is absolutely one insane ride of an album. I was initially-impressed with Transcending Obscurity’s early-2023 release Saevus Finis, a total no-nonsense knuckle-dragging technical death metal onslaught that blew my mind. I was hoping that there might be some more competition as the year went by. I give you the competition to Saevus Finis’ album, in Fractal Generator’s Convergence set to be released on June 7th through Everlasting Spew Records.
At first, I thought this was going to be a good combination of works like Cognitive and perhaps Archspire. I know that the idea of the album is to be technically-tight and dark. However, as the listening went on, I realized that the album has a wholly-unique identity that isn’t really something that joins the masses of tech-death offerings. Naturally, it’s full of dark metaphors, science/alien themes, as well as existential/lovecraftian overtones, but I don’t necessarily think that it checks the same “boxes” as bands like First Fragment or Archspire. It’s a totally-different animal, and I mean that in a way meant to implore listeners to give it some designated space for its own effect.
I think that the absolute fury of the drums and guitar is the main staple of the whole records. There’s a great left/right balance that will reward headphone or near field-speaker users. The technical prowess of the musicianship isn’t just something that’s impressive in mono. The mix/master is done with a precision that allows the listener to appreciate layers of depth that show off the band’s hard work. Maybe this is where I thought that this album might be a good parallel to First Fragment. However, the musicality is something that deviates from the “pretty” or the “classical” in almost every way.
Convergence is just pure musical intensity, even from a composition standpoint. I imagine that the musical notation for this album would look as terrifying as it sounds to listen to, something that I consider a compliment to their intent as artists. The message is well-conveyed. The dissonance on most of the accent notes is rhythmic and poignant, making the overall tension of the album something that never really ceases. When writing an album meant to convey dread and extreme feeling, tension is the veritable 10mm socket of the album, the go-to tool you end up using all the time. How else is it apt to convey such terrifying themes with just music?
The entire album was an absolute breeze. I mean that it totally flew by in a short time, never leaving me the ability to stop and enjoy a few tracks for their uniqueness. This is two-edged, however. There were few moments where I was absolutely ready to put a track on repeat. Each track on convergence was a wild ride in its own way, but very few of the tracks made me want to replay it for hours on repeat. That’s not necessarily something that takes away from the album, but something that listeners ought to consider when looking at the band’s release this year. The impression that I have is that I don’t think that Fractal Generator is looking to make singles, though, so I don’t think they really “missed the boat” on this matter.
Convergence is a tour de force of technical death prowess that comes straight from the depths of blackness with dissonant rage and relentless technical brutality.
(4 / 5)
