EPK – The Design Abstract – Metemtechnosis (2021)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Scar Symmetry, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Soilwork, Septicflesh, Divine Disorder
“Many people had many positive things to say about Technotheism upon its release, and we feel that Metemtechnosis is a worthy successor to it. Compositionally, we have refined many elements and parts of the processes, and from a technical standpoint, we have really stepped up a lot. Those who wanted to hear more of the killer guitar work will assuredly not be disappointed. Metemtechnosis also carries on the story of Technotheism in part two of what will be a trilogy. Everything that was present in Technotheism has been brought back in more compelling ways, and the performances are more on-point than ever before.
Metemtechnosis is a sci-fi melodic death metal album that uses orchestral and electronic elements to tell the story of humanity being reborn as a creation of hyper-intelligent technology. Themes that deconstruct the ideas of technology, humanity, and utopia are explored to the sound of huge, riffy, and comprehensive songs.” – Voiicide – The Design Abstract
Album Title: Metemtechnosis
Release Date: October 29, 2021
Label: Abstrakted Records
Facebook.com/thedesignabstract | Youtube | Instagram.com/thedesignabstract | Instagram.com/voiicide
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“Incorporating old school sci-fi visual elements with choppy electronics, catchy guitar parts and perfectly timed kick drums, this track (Parallel Projection) is a synth metal blast!” – Metal Injection
“A symphonic technical death metal masterpiece with an amazing concept to keep you engaged from start to finish \m/” – Heavy New York
“Now for some nerd shit. Technotheism is a concept record about the future that at it’s core is a melodic death metal record, but the band dabbles with electronic elements, technicality, and grand orchestrations throughout. Fans of Last Chance To Reason and really any band Mike Semesky (Ordinance, Raunchy, etc) has been a part of will probably dig this.” – Metal Injection
“This is a grandiose affair, full of musicality, technicality, and narrative. Thirteen tracks of symphonic melodic death metal that tells a cyberpunk story of a group of rebels fighting to regain control of Earth. It ranges from technical guitar work to atmospheric electronic passages, and just about everything in between.” – The Prog Space
“I love hearing something ambitious and genre-bending when a band can follow through on their vision. The Design Abstract is one such band, one that had an idea and put it together almost flawlessly… This album is every bit as diverse, colorful, and epic as I had hoped, and there are jaw-dropping moments galore. I absolutely love this record.” – The Prog Mind
“The Canadian The Design Abstract continues exactly where the appetizer “Esoteric”, published last year, caused unimagined enthusiasm. As a result, the duo from Ontario cuts even more clearly into the notch of futuristic sci-fi melodic death metal, which lives largely from orchestral and symphonic density, but which also steers very sophisticated and elegant in the right direction… Rarely do you hear such an exciting album that continues to rotate a unique spindle of ideas between melodic and progressive elements. Death metal meets industrial, songs that are staged in a great symphonic and epic breadth. 9.5/10″ ” – Zephyrs Odem
“The Design Abstract goes for a big symphonic style in extreme metal, with a few twists and surprises along the way. Fans of the dystopian and/or futuristic sounds may find the album especially interesting. The Design Abstract is the symphony that remains after the alien zombies have taken over and this is the music that they want the world to hear to remind everyone that the zombies are horrible beings that enjoy tormenting the population with grandiose cacophony. When can the party begin, right?” – Metal Bulletin Zine
“THE DESIGN ABSTRACT – Technothesim is an eavesdropping beyond one’s own musical nose, which is worth it!” – My Revelations
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The album as a whole:
Metemtechnosis is a sci-fi melodic death metal album that uses orchestral and electronic elements to tell the story of humanity being reborn as a creation of hyper-intelligent technology. Themes that deconstruct the ideas of technology, humanity, and utopia are explored to the sound of huge, riffy, and comprehensive songs.
Track by track explained:
01 Digital Dawn
The album opener is a flurry of highly technical guitar work mixed with anthemic choruses bordering on stadium rock. It tells of the Omnisphere (singularity)’s decision to spawn a new race of humanity on earth. Digital Dawn features virtuosic guitar/synth melodies, as well as even more harsh/clean vocal contrast than before.
02 Born of Machines
Track 2 is heavily influenced by Gothenburg Melodeath, as it features a fairly traditional song structure, and sports several catchy riffs and solos. The lyrics tell of this (aforementioned) great technological rebirth taking place.
03 The Hybrid Awakening
Track 3 is what really sets the benchmark for the album: The same impressive riffs and leads as well as guitar and synth solos that you should expect, but with the emotionally impactful climax of the chorus, and the Meshuggah-esque breakdown sections. Lyrically, this track explains this new race of humanity is integrated with technology at a fundamental level, making humankind stronger, faster, and more versatile than ever.
04 Organic Data Fusion
A more relaxed tempo, but still as technical as ever, track 4 features the first cello solo on the album, as well as an abundance of soulful lead work by Matt. The song tells of the ever-blurring line between humanity and technology, as -with each new generation the two become more and more inseparable.
05 Metropolis II
A slight departure both lyrically and musically, Track 5 is a very fast-paced and to-the-point song about the over-industrialization of the new cities being built to accommodate this increasing surge in population. It features more industrial elements than normal, and displays a more simplified writing style than the rest of the album.
06 Aberration Omega
I can’t describe this track without using the term “absolute banger” so we’ll just get that out of the way now. Track 6 is a display of everything the band is capable of in a neat 3.5 minute capsule. Epic orchestra, electro-industrial elements, soaring clean vocals, brutal lows, and of course truly impressive guitar work, all set to express the anthemic sound of rebellion. Aberration Omega tells of the formation of the rebel group that forms to rise up against the tyrannical reign of their oppressors.
07 Upheaval (Instrumental)
Track 7 is an instrumental track that represents the general civil unrest and the building of tension between Aberration Omega, and the overly-imposing rule of the Omnisphere and the ones who represent it. It features a massive percussion group, a mix of orchestra and synth, and lyrical guitar leads.
08 Sentinels
The second lyrical and musical departure from the album, Track 8 is a much more atmospheric melodeath track exploring the focal target of the rebellion: the sacred temple of the oppressors. Musically it features (relatively) more simplistic guitar work and more groove-based drumming, with much more vague orchestra and washed-out harsh vocals. A bit of a rest before what’s to come.
09 Decryptor
TDA’s new magnum opus is track 9: Decryptor. Everything present in Technotheism and in Metemtechnosis is here in some regard. The absolutely devastating breakdown-turned-chorus, the highly detailed orchestral work and synth layering which could very well be a soundtrack in its own right, the crushing guttural lows contrasted with crisp clean vocals, and of course riff after riff of technical-yet-memorable guitar work. All of these elements work together to tell of the saviour of Aberration Omega: the fabled Decryptor. Described as “an angel of digital reckoning” and “the archfiend of machines”, the Decryptor character is the key to the rebellion breaking through the walls of the oppressive temple, and discovering the secrets uncovered in the next album.
[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]
Album Title: Metemtechnosis
Release Date: October 29, 2021
Label: Abstrakted Records
Track Listing:
1. Digital Dawn (8:03)
2. Born of Machines (4:35)
3. The Hybrid Awakening (7:07)
4. Organic Data Fusion (5:45)
5. Metropolis II (4:42)
6. Aberration Omega (3:33)
7. Upheaval (Instrumental) (2:00)
8. Sentinels (3:10)
9. Decryptor (6:32)
Album Length: 45:31
Album / Single Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Voiicide, Logan Mayhem, Matt Ngo
• All songs written by: Voiicide, Logan Mayhem
• Produced by: Voiicide at Abstrakted Records
• Mixed by: Voiicide at Abstrakted Records
• Mastered by: Voiicide at Abstrakted Records
• Album Artwork by: Yuta Shimpo
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
Album Band Line Up:
Voiicide – Vocals, Bass, Scoring/Sampling/Programming
Logan Mayhem – Guitars, Modular synthesis
Matt Ngo – Guitars
L-R – Matt Ngo (Guitar) | Voiicide (Vocals, Bass, Synth) | Logan Mayhem (Guitar, Synth)
Photo Credit: Tami Martin
The Design Abstract is a 3-piece Symphonic Melodic Death Metal band from Kitchener-Waterloo, ON, Canada. The band focuses heavily on storytelling and worldbuilding with a futuristic and sci-fi narrative to each album they create. The Design Abstract formed in 2011 as a solo project under the name Design, and after many lineup changes, grew into a musical entity that presents a bold, epic, and even monolithic fusion of orchestra, synth, and melodic death metal. Sweeping symphonic passages, harsh industrial elements, highly proficient and memorable guitar work, and brutal guttural vocals mixed with soaring cleans are all blended in many ways to put forth a truly unique and powerful musical experience.
Discography:
2021 – Metemtechnosis
2021 – Technotheism
2020 – Esoteric EP
2019 – Corrupt EP
2017 – Emanate
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