InVisions – Deadlock
Release Date: 11th February 2022
Label: Self Released
Pre-Order/Pre-Save
Genre: Metalcore
FFO: Betraying the Martyrs, ten56., Feed Her to the Sharks.
Review By: Trina Julian Edwards
British metalcore outfit, InVisions, return with their third full-length album, Deadlock. Formed in York in 2016, InVisions continues to demonstrate why they’re one of the most promising bands in the scene. Deadlock was conceived and self-recorded during lockdown, allowing vocalist Ben Ville, guitarists Lucas Gabb and Alex Scott, and drummer Josh Hardy the time they needed to create their most ambitious and thoughtful work to date. Mixed once again by producer Joe Graves (Asking Alexandria, Deaf Havana, Glamour Of The Kill), Deadlock will be unleashed upon the world Friday, February 11, 2022.
The title-track, The 669, begins with lovely ambient sounds and a sweet, synth-y intro before bursting in with a blistering assault on the senses. Ville’s aggressive vocals and the return of the synth in a contemplative instrumental interlude perfectly match the lyrical themes of frustration behind being unable to find the words you want to say and getting too much in your own head. Following on its heels is Half Life, a powerful beast of a track with a big, catchy chorus and some satisfying breakdown elements giving life to the dynamics.
The Annihilist is a definite highlight of the album, grabbing you right away with the chugs and barely letting you catch your breath before hitting you with that hooky as all get-out chorus. While the themes of uncertainty and self-doubt are dark, ultimately the chorus exhorts the listener to “let it burn…” and just let things happen. DVPE then follows like a furious storm raging across the landscape, with a formidable breakdown that speaks to the weighty topic of addiction. Hindsight gets you back into the groove, again showcasing the band’s skill at balancing heaviness with a singable chorus and an effective use of melody.
The title track, Deadlock, is another standout, jumping in with Ville’s fiery screams and growls, offset by his delicate cleans and that memorable chorus. Meanwhile, Gabb and Scott throw down some particularly good djenty riffs and rhythm over Hardy’s driving beat. Last Light continues the intensity, highlighting the passionate vocal delivery and the dramatic, shifting dynamics of the accompaniment. Amour is another favorite. It’s a glorious rage-filled diatribe that alternately shrieks and growls its fury with sinister intent- “Drag you to hell…It’s all you fucking deserve…Six feet deep…” This is about as close to deathcore as metalcore gets, and I’m here for it.
DEALER is the companion track to DVPE, two different narratives that are about the person dealing with addiction, and the person who is the family member or loved one trying to offer support. This track has a slower tempo in places that matches the introspective theme, but there’s no lack of ferocity, and the authenticity shines through in their treatment of the topic. The portentous Inertia, with its haunting melody and ethereal vocals, is a fitting bridge between DEALER and the final track, Fall With Me. This song is pure metalcore energy, with aggressive verses and a melodic chorus focusing on themes of grief and mortality. The final words of the album, “No happy ending,” are a painful reminder of the emptiness of loss, and that melancholy outro punctuates this beautifully. Overall, InVisions has not only delivered an album that is more mature and introspective thematically speaking, but they’ve also conveyed a more cohesive vision, musically. While Deadlock retains the heaviness of their previous album, Between You And Me, it has also added emotional context that is refreshing in its authenticity. It’s catchy, it’s thoughtful, it’s aggressive, and it just may be the shot in the arm the British metalcore scene needs.
(4.5 / 5)
