Denver heavy crew Voidatlas drill down on a resonating and atmospheric brand of progressive metalcore with new 5-track EP, Descending.
The collection is a triumphant marriage of technically weighted, Djent-adorned riffs, skull-crushing percussion & explosive melodies. Unpacking the story behind the new collection, vocalist Trent Heddings shares: “This EP is the culmination of multiple years of writing, discarding, reshaping, and rewriting a number of song ideas. We picked our strongest tracks to make into small but heavy hitting package, lasting only 16 minutes and change. In that short time we aim to touch on a plethora of dynamic sounds and emotions, all while keeping the music cohesive.”
1. “Void”
This intro is a short but important component of the record. Originally written as part of the next track (Severance), the piece’s stark contrast warranted a track and title of its own. Its wordless ambience serves as a palette cleanser for the intensity of the remaining track list.
2. “Severance”
The first full song on the record, and containing some of the earliest riffs we’ve written. The key of this song aims for an adventurous tone, with equal parts uncertainty and optimism. This is reflected in the lyrics, exploring themes of “moving on”, whether it be from relationships or other experiences.
3. “Absolution”
This is the first collaborative effort between both guitarists of Voidatlas, exemplified by the unrelenting (and almost unnecessary) technicality from riff to riff. Surprisingly, the working title for this song ended up being the final name read above, and was drawn upon for its lyrical inspiration. It envisions a medieval time period, during which a religious prosecutor chronicles their deeds of punishment upon those deemed unfit for the heavens, only to reveal that their motives are less genuine than assumed.
4. “Descent”
The implied title track of the record. This track stands out with its dark atmosphere that only seems to get more deep and intense as it continues (hence the name). Lyrically, it explores the decline of one’s mental state after succumbing to panic and anxiety, being driven farther away from sanity and comfort. The resonance of deep, octave-shifted guitars and heavy reverb accentuate the feeling of falling away from a normalcy.
5. “Dread Again”
The epic closer. Heavily inspired by the game Baldur’s Gate 3, in particular the Dark Urge. The song touches on the idea that the character wants to forgive themself for mistakes made in the past (some rather gruesome ones, at that) and to turn over a new leaf. The song itself shifts from minor to major keys between the verses/choruses to portray this light vs dark struggle. In its conclusion, the song’s character cannot find a means of improvement, and instead embraces their fearsome tendencies. A touch of lyrical ambiguity makes the song more relatable to anyone struggling to make positive changes in their life, while keeping the video game inspiration not-so secretive.
