Reviews list for Artificial Brain - Artificial Brain (2022)

Over the past few months I've really started to regret spending the last decade being so fixated on 90s/00s death metal. For some reason I'd formed the opinion that a lot of modern death metal was too clinical and over-produced for my tastes. It turns out I was either completely wrong, or things have improved in recent years to the point where 2022 is seeming like a very good year indeed for the genre. Artificial Brain's self-titled third album is yet another excellent death metal release for the year, following up albums from Immolation, Pharmacist, Hath and Cosmic Putrefaction, amongst others. I must admit that I was initially a bit put off by the pig-squeal style of the main vocalist, but I've surprisingly come to enjoy them quite a bit. It also helps that there's some variation in vocal style across the album, which I'm assuming is due to three band members having vocals next to their name in the sleeve. Vocals aside, the music and production on this release are outstanding! Apart from the occasional use of that truly awful echoing garbage can lid sound that slam death bands have a tendency to use, all the instruments sound fantastic. Everything, including the bass, is giving room to breathe, which is admirable given just how intense this album is. 

There's an excellent balance between brutality and memorability, technicality and cohesiveness, throughout this album. If you're even slightly into the more extreme side of metal music, this is band that should be on your playlist. I haven't yet checked out their earlier work, but I certainly will after this. As far as death metal goes this year, only the mighty Immolation's latest effort surpasses what Artificial Brain have achieved here. If you want a taste, check out any of the first four tracks, although I think Celestial Cyst is the highlight, as painful as that sounds.

2022 RANKING (57 releases so far)

4. Mournful Congregation - The Exuviae of Gods - Part 1 - 4.5 stars

5. Artificial Brain - Artificial Brain - 4.5 stars

6. Mizmor & Thou - Myopia - 4.5 stars

2022 DEATH RANKING (13 releases so far)

1. Immolation - Acts of God - 4.5 stars

2. Artificial Brain - Artificial Brain - 4.5 stars

3. Pharmacist - Flourishing Extremities on Unspoiled Mental Grounds - 4.5 stars