Boston’s The Infinity Ring are back with Ataraxia, an album that keeps their experimental spirit alive while pushing their sound even further. If you’re into dark, heavy, and atmospheric music that doesn’t stick to one genre, this one’s worth a listen.
Right from the first track, “Obsidian,” the album throws you into a strange, otherworldly vibe. It starts with what sounds like a backward-playing voice, setting a mysterious tone before diving into slow, weighty instrumentals and deep, heavy vocals. It’s a moody and intense opener, and as soon as it fades out, “Nightingale” picks up without missing a beat, making the album feel like one continuous journey, something that is missing on a lot of records these days. It’s nice to feel like the album is a full piece or experience and it definitely feels that way with this one.
“Elysium” is one of the highlights. It’s got a grand, almost cinematic feel with marching drums, beautiful choir and eerie violin work. It’s the kind of song that feels massive but still deeply personal, balancing heaviness with beauty. It’s definitely one of the heavier tracks on the album and once again the production is great and makes the track sound really special.
“Revenge” brings in some of the album’s more open moments while keeping that signature off-kilter atmosphere. It’s dark, brooding, and full of experimental sounds—easily one of the most memorable tracks. There’s a vast openness or maybe loneliness in the instrumental of this one.
Another standout track is “The Archway,” the final track, which ties everything together perfectly. The way an album closer should. It’s layered and moody, the kind of closer that leaves you sitting in silence after it ends, still soaking it all in. It’s over 6 minutes of pure musical experimentation, skill and experience. The official video for this track only adds to its eerie, immersive vibe.
Ataraxia isn’t just a collection of songs thrown together into an LP—something that has become much more prevalent with the introduction of fast music with a focus on streams. This is a well thought out record, it feels like a full experience, with each track flowing seamlessly into the next. It’s got a mix of doom, post-metal, folk, industrial, and experimental sounds, making it unpredictable in the best way. While some moments might feel a bit too abstract for casual listeners, there’s a lot here for fans of dark, boundary-pushing music.
Ataraxia scores a nice 7 out of 10
‘ATARAXIA’ is coming out March 21 via Profound Lore Records.
Available for pre-orders from now on here.
Reviewer – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography