Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Neurotech - Solace (2021)

The true return of Neurotech from Wulf's 4-year hiatus from the project came with this excellent album Solace. It's a nice improvement from In Remission and The Catalyst, and can certainly beat Evasive by far. Most of the albums besides those 3 are high-quality releases, and that 4-year break was mandatory to reach that glory again.

Wulf still has what Neurotech really is! Y'know, the usual futuristic cyber/industrial metal, pounding through atmosphere, electronics, and riffs that all sound so unique. Well, other than the mundane verse-chorus structure with the former sounding soft and the latter sounding heavy. Wulf's vocals are more improved than ever, further departing from his early growls, and adding in some digital effects. Often the vocalist gets all the spotlight, but Wulf doesn't have to worry about that because everything's done by him.

We're already getting something promising and enjoyable as the strong "Koma" wakes the project up from its coma. It is followed by the powerful anthem "Light Betides", one of the best tracks by this new improved Neurotech. "Waking Silence" has some melody from power metal bands like Unleash the Archers, while mostly electronic.

Bridging the heaviness a bit is the electronic ballad "In Ashen Fields", which is a beautiful highlight. "In Raging Reclaim" is the only track here I would consider slightly weak, though it's OK and nicely leads to the next track. The heavy "Alias" can really sum up the more metallic parts of Neurotech's career. I can almost say the same thing about "Defy Our Oath", having some of the symphonic progressiveness of Xerath.

Adding a bit of the more symphonic progressive is "Stop the Bleeding", almost like Eternal Tears of Sorrow gone electronic. "A Moment Lost" has beautiful vocals to make another highlight. The title finale I don't enjoy as much as most of the other tracks, but it's slightly better than "In Raging Reclaim". It's a good 8-minute cyber metal epic that listeners would have on repeat. It's almost close to uplifting rock trance! The starting guitar and bass is insanely cool! Some parts might be anti-climatic, but once it builds into the crescendo at over the 5-minute mark, the climax is filled with aggressive divinity. Some cyber metal listeners might be reminded of SyBreed.

Neurotech fans should definitely listen to this excellent Solace. It might take some time to get used to this band, like what I've been through, and in the end, you're ready to transcend through this musical dream. You can rock it out or relax, sometimes at the same time. The world of Neurotech isn't going away anytime soon. There's still some hope in the future of metal!

Favorites: "Koma", "Light Betides", "In Ashen Fields", "Alias", "A Moment Lost"