Origin : Japan
Genre : Power Metal
Release : 2014
Album downloads only available to members
Album Info / Review
**Unlucky Morpheus – “Affected”**
From the first slash of the opening track, “Uneaten Visions,” the record announces itself as a head‑long plunge into a corridor of swirling, gut‑wrenching electricity. The guitar work is firmly rooted in the aggressive frameworks of modern melodic death, yet each riff breaks mold with an unexpected shuffle or an odd interval that pushes the listener beyond simple verse‑drama. The opening riff uses a three‑note descending minor sequence that repeats but jumps a whole step halfway through, giving it a jagged, almost fractured feel. This motif recurs—muted and syncopated—in the bridge of “Tethered,” creating a through‑line that ties the tracks together.
### Sound and Atmosphere
The soundscape evolves from raw brutality into an almost claustrophobic atmosphere shaped by layered synths and harmonics that murmur beneath the guitars. The title track, “Affected,” starts with a thunderous blast beat and, after the first chorus, drifts into a slow, droning synth pad that shadows every vocal line. The low-end is milked to its maximum; each bass line cuts cleanly alongside the distorted guitars, giving the mix weight without drowning the higher frequencies.
Emotionally, the record oscillates between a sense of hopeless defiance and a haunting sense of resignation. The second half of “Allegro Decrepitude” introduces a clean vocal sample, reminiscent of an old film dialogue, which adds a layer of melancholy that isn’t gentle but rather a heavy, oppressive similarity to a night that’s too long. The use of reverb is spotty—great on the percussion; a bit too suffused on the guitars, diluting the bite on a few quieter passages. The crescendo in “Edgy” is a masterclass in building tension: the guitar triplets intensify until the final chorus, which fuses an extremely complex shift into a thunderous, almost dissonant scream, triggering an almost apocalyptic echo effect that reinforces the industrial edge.
### Riffs and Composition
The guitar tone is unmistakably thick, mid‑range clipped but also carrying a high‑end sparkle during the main hooks. I spent the last two hours dissecting the riff structure of “Morpheus Intermède,” which uses a 12‑note riff that loops but changes the key center every verse. The use of djent–style chugging at the bridge of “Oblivion Echo” feels like a golden thread weaving metal with a hint of complex prog.
The lead work rarely overshadows the rhythm; it’s mostly fine melodic harmony that combs through a ricocheting sound field, occasionally cutting a jaw‑dropping interval that listeners of thrash will find delightfully anag, but it’s best when interjected into the rhythm thrashing to create a sense of staccato But the turned sections have no snoot.
### Production Quality
Recorded at a mid‑level studio, the more significant drawback is a bit of a flattened dynamic on some of the deeper guitars. The mixing favors the vocals, pushing them well into the foreground, but a few tracks have inconsistent levels that make a reading of the chorus feel suddenly louder. The use of reverb often feels like a two‑horse‑dollar approach; a smaller, more artificial algorithm is applied to the drums, making the snare sound detached. The vinyl pressing sounded great; the studio mix was more interesting.
The mastering, meanwhile, does a decent job keeping the intensity intact. There is a slight sibilance around the high frequencies of the vocal line—cool on the first hearkening if you have a microphone that focuses on the right.
### Overall Impression
“Affected” is a vivid, bracing piece of metal. It is no background instrument in a bus; the riff structure hooks tightly and deludes with surprising twists. It is the amalgam of raw digital guitar sound with some metallic ambience dropped in the final half. The strong composition, rawness, and bright implications aren’t particularly innovative for the genre but serve the band in a compelling way.
If you’re looking for something that keeps the energy raw while integrating weird atmosphere edges, this will satisfy. It’s an unsettling journey that keeps you on your toes. Its ability to keep the fan base in splatter is what really sets so.
