Infrared – Manifestation
Infrared – Manifestation
Self-Released
Release Date: 06/09/2024
Running Time: 41:15
Review by Victor Augusto
9/10
Infrared is back with a new gift for those who follow their work, and I can say that I feel so connected to these Canadians that I feel like I can understand how important they are for the music scene in their country, even though I don’t live there. I’m saying it because I see how professional and big they became over their interesting career. If you want to know more about them, there is an interview here at Ever Metal where we went deep into the band’s early days, hiatus and how they became so active after returning.
As usual, Infrared strikes hard on society’s issues, but now, it’s more related to the digital world commanded by Smartphones, A.I. and addiction to the fake Social Media life. For this album, it looks like the technology is always hidden on the band’s theme, even in songs like ‘Demon’s Blood’ which talks about addiction (probably drugs), but if we take a time to think, the addiction to this virtual world, especially by the young generation that already born around it, is responsible for a lot of mental disturbances and anxiety. But that’s just my impression about what Infrared is expressing here.
And still connected to the fake beautiful world of Social Media, the song ‘Pressure Syndrome’ seems to walk in the same path despite the lyrics not mentioning it. Actually, it’s about not feeling connected to society and how people around you will judge you. Again, I compare it to the virtual world where people are desperately trying to get views and likes on their profiles, which make them slaves of a fairy tale that doesn’t match to what we really live. As a result, people are getting more and more disconnected from each other.
As I said before, I don’t know if it was the band’s intention on their lyrics, but maybe I felt it in my recent struggle to understand where I belong and how I’m slowly disconnecting myself from circles and groups that I was part of before, as I’m getting old. But when the band sings “…The Pressure is building…” (on the song I’ve mentioned), I immediately associated it with the word “Depression” which sounds similar when we speak. Depression is another issue that is hitting more people than we have ever seen before.
The album finishes with all darkness after a humanity dominated by machines or living among wars as described on ‘Then the Earth Goes Black’. At the same time Infrared goes though this side of humanity’s problems made by technology, they ironically used A.I. to do the cover art of this album.
At some point in my review, I got myself asking how Infrared evolved since the first album I’ve heard after their return. Of course, it’s impossible to not evolve with a constant frequency of releases as the band has been doing, but I believe I’ve also evolved as a fan and friend of them. These thoughts came when I was hearing how Armin Kamal uses good melodies with his voice, sometimes like a haunting ghost whispering on his interpretation. Even on ‘Demon’s Blood’, which is a short and aggressive Thrash song, the band puts a break on the speed with a short psychedelic lead to increase the feeling of numbness of an addicted person.
And everything I’ve described has the best of Thrash Metal as a soundtrack. Armin and Kirk Gidley do an amazing job on riffs and solos, with the powerful bass of Mike Forbes and the amazing drums of Alain Groulx. Despite human disconnection being the focus here, what we see in “Manifestation” is a band very connected, as musicians and as friends of a long time on the road, showing that their music goes way beyond than just playing Thrash Metal.
Infrared – Demon’s Blood (Official Video)
TRACKLISTING:
01. Cataclysm
02. Temple of Sin
03. Nikko
04. Demon’s Blood
05. Pressure Syndrome
06. The Manifest
07. Manifest Nation
08. Concuss
09. Reforma
10. My Dreams Are Real
11. Parasite Patrol
12. Then the Earth Goes Black
LINE-UP:
Armin Kamal – Vocals, Guitar Kirk Gidley – Guitar
Mike Forbes – Bass Alain Groulx – Drums
LINKS:
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