For a microgenre that asserts itself to be progressive and quite serious, the result in regards to band members is quite the opposite. Djent, while having quite serious origins in the progressive metal-sphere, quickly turned quite tongue-in-cheek, with even big hitters Periphery using their tongue-in-cheek album title Djent is not a genre as a light-hearted jab at the genre. Vertex, on the other hand, seem like they’re bringing in a more serious tone to the scene, taking inspiration from huge acts in the acne with their debut EP in 2019, the band have been hard at work to follow this up with their debut album, The Purest Light (Le Cri Du Charbon). This may have taken over 5 years, but the band has grafted hard to create this 53-minute behemoth.
Beginning with the viscerally titled “All My Hatred”, the band waste no time in displaying their influences pretty heavily on their sleeves. Discordant, syncopated guitar rhythms, straight out of the meshuggah blast out the speaker. It is clear from the beginning, that the band are highly skilled musicians. “All My Hatred” matches this technicality with raw aggression with bravado, Kik Mastan’s animalistic screams perfectly accompany these unhuman sounds emanating from the instruments.
The band are clearly not afraid to experiment with instrumental sounds outside of the genres wheelhouse, the title track begins with an echoey, spacey percussion set that sounds like it should be in a more lofi/minimalist electronic track from an artist like Burials, this feeling is quickly shut down as the sound swiftly picks up in pace and is abruptly joined by this drill-like guitar riff, reminiscent of the likes of “L’enfant Sauvage”-era Gojira. This riff hammers into your head before launching head-first into this frenzied maelstrom of a song. Mastan’s vocals are once again on fire, switching between a frenzied scream and bark similar to Devin Townsend, himself.
This cacophony of heavy, extreme melodies does not let up once, not letting the audience relax for a single moment. Realising that after the first half of the audience may be a bit fatigued, Mastan screams down the microphone in “Social Unborn” “Get up get up get up” ad nauseum with these frenetic drum beats that would scare a crowd in a retirement home to form a circle pit instantly. There is only one point of respite, that comes in the form of the final track “Tar”, a purely instrumental piece. Bringing in other more luxurious instrumentation, but instead of the grandiose themes that these should bring about, the minor chords combined with the discordant theming, set your skin on end, as if you’re waiting for a breakdown to appear that never quite ends up occurring.
As mentioned earlier in the year, the band has been crafting hard at work on this album since the release of their EP in 2019. Vertex has without a doubt shown how much those 5-6 years were clearly needed in regards to their musical vision. The soundscapes, the brutality and once more, the technicality is a full-on presentation for all to witness in The Purest Light. If this debut is anything to go by, the follow-up should be on every progressive fans must-listen list. Hopefully, this album doesn’t require another 6 years.
Buy the album here:
https://vertexmetal.bandcamp.com/album/the-purest-light
8 / 10
CHARLIE HILL