Poland has long maintained an ironclad reputation as a fertile breeding ground for some of the most devastating, technically proficient heavy music on the planet. When you examine the output from this specific European region, you expect a certain level of instrumental precision and unyielding aggression. Hailing from Jaworzno, Animations perfectly embodies this regional pedigree while aggressively carving out their own unique sonic territory. This veteran unit has been grinding through the underground and refining its craft across five full-length albums. Their latest compact disc offering, the Definition Of Mad EP, represents a fascinating pivot in their creative trajectory. Following the expansive nature of their 2023 full-length Contemporary Guide to Modern Living, the band freely chose to compress their metallic fury into a concise, 25-minute onslaught. The resulting five-track release is a hyper-focused, lethal dose of metalcore, groove metal, and technical death metal that demands absolute attention from the listener. Thematic depth is a crucial component of any successful modern metal release, and Animations tackles incredibly heavy subject matter with profound respect and raw intensity. Definition Of Mad serves as a conceptual exploration of mental health and the grueling daily struggle to find balance within an increasingly chaotic, unbalanced modern world. The psychological weight of these themes is brilliantly visually represented by the EP’s cover art, crafted entirely by the band’s frontman, Frantz Wołoch. Having the lead vocalist handle the visual aesthetic ensures a perfectly unified artistic vision. The visual darkness immediately translates into the sonic artillery waiting on the disc. The band translates the crushing reality of anxiety, internal conflict, and societal pressure directly into their complex, aggressive musical arrangements.
Speaking of Frantz Wołoch, his vocal performance throughout this release is breathtaking. He acts as the primary emotional conduit, delivering enormously powerful vocals that run the entire gamut of extreme metal techniques. His aggressive delivery is packed with fierce shouts and marvelous screams that perfectly articulate the frustration and chaos of the human mind breaking down. Yet, he masterfully transitions into incredibly clean, melodic passages where the band shares highly sincere emotion. These melodic vocal sections act as crucial moments of vulnerability and clarity amid the instrumental storm. They provide the necessary breathing room, allowing the listener to fully absorb the lyrical weight regarding mental health struggles before the next wave of aggression hits. The foundational bedrock of Animations’ sound rests squarely upon the shoulders of the guitar department. The guitar work on this CD exemplifies extreme metal execution. The tone is obscenely heavy, utilizing extremely chuggy, downtuned configurations that make sure each riff arrives like a colossal, impenetrable wall of sound. Understanding the frequency distribution of these downtuned instruments highlights exactly why the riffs feel so physically imposing. The low-end resonance creates a percussive attack that hits the listener right in the chest. However, Animations refuses to rely solely on brute force. The guitar tracking is heavily layered and remarkably technically demanding. The progressive metal and technical death metal roots shine brightly through intricate fretboard acrobatics, complex time signatures, and rapid-fire picking sequences. Amidst this technical wizardry, the guitarists intelligently carve out specific spots to share subtle, beautifully constructed melodies and harmonies. These lead themes slice through the heavy rhythmic chugging, adding a sophisticated, atmospheric dimension to the brutal foundations.
To support such a massive guitar tone, a band requires a rhythm section possessing absolute precision and power. In modern metalcore and tech-death, the bass guitar frequently gets entirely buried in the mix, lost beneath the kick drums and distorted guitars. Animations vehemently rejects that mixing trope. The bass guitar on Definition Of Mad provides spectacular clarity and depth. You can distinctly hear the metallic clank of the bass strings locking into the groove. The bass acts as the ultimate structural adhesive, binding the erratic, technically demanding guitar sweeps with the thunderous percussive patterns. It adds a thick, warm undercurrent that makes the breakdowns and heavy grooves feel even more catastrophic. The drummer is tasked with keeping everything in line while simultaneously dictating the relentless groove and pace. In a genre-blending release like this, the percussionist must seamlessly transition between the bouncy, syncopated rhythms characteristic of groove metal and the complex endurance required for technical death metal. The drum tracking here is phenomenal. Every snare crack, double-kick barrage, and cymbal accentuation is placed with mathematical precision. The drumming creates a highly dynamic topography, knowing exactly when to push the tempo into the red zone and when to drop into a slow, neck-snapping groove. Definition Of Mad exemplifies how this band is entirely in control of their chaotic elements. Animations successfully distilled years of songwriting experience into a 25-minute masterpiece. They merged the technical proficiency of progressive metal with the sheer, undiluted hostility of metalcore and the rhythmic bounce of groove metal. By focusing their lyrical lens on the highly relatable, urgent topics of mental health and modern survival, they elevated the material from a simple collection of heavy riffs into a profound piece of art.
This CD is a mandatory acquisition for any true fan of metalcore, groove metal, or technical death metal. It provides all the intricate musicianship the elitists crave, alongside the massive, breakdown-inducing hooks that keep the mosh pits spinning. Animations took a bold step by shifting to this short, high-impact format, and the gamble paid off immensely. Grab a physical copy, examine the artwork, press play, and let the beautifully orchestrated madness wash over you.
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