The EPs have been pure fire so far this year. I don’t normally dedicate full reviews to them, but some just compel me to write. Artificial Astronaut has been relatively silent since 2022’s Deep Black Out, but they recently launched an EP called When The Familiar Ends, which I think is a major step up in sound.
The band hails from my hometown of Akron, Ohio. Right away, you’ll probably recognize Michael Socrates of If These Trees Could Talk on guitars and synths; the rest of the band includes Ian Kolarovsky on vocals and keys, Matthew Socrates on drums, and Fred Winkler on bass. All of the members also participate in some way with the band Brave Arrows, another fantastic group you should hear.
The music here is prog-adjacent alternative rock. The guitars are absolutely massive, featuring huge waves of glorious distortion that sounds tempered with electronica. The six songs are all catchy, vocals performed with expression and even some sass, but there are plenty of squirrely instrumentals and synth solos that I adore. The music feels inspired and well-conceived.
The EP hits the ground running with “The Vow”, full of powerful bass and excellent drumming. I love the sweaty, expressive vocal performance. I can imagine it being an incredible live experience as the heavy guitars come sweeping in. Yet, “Anonymous” follows and hits just as hard; it is more reserved at first, building with emotion until the lumbering guitars hit at the perfect moment. It simply explodes from there, from a fiery rhythm section to Ian’s searing vocals to the enormous sound of the guitars, it just fires on all cylinders.
My favorite song ends the first half. It’s called “In Shadow”. I love the electronic overlay, the filtered vocals, even. It just makes sense, especially as the incredibly catchy chorus arrives, making the transition from filtered vocals to crystal clear emotion so potent. The drumming is absolutely stunning on this piece, but everything is just performed with such fire and flame that I can’t help but be carried away.
The last three tracks are all great, too, though I’ll admit the first half is my favorite. “Solitude” feels more like a metal song at points, heavily industrial even. I love how it trades between riffs and vulnerable vocal portions, and the instrumental in the second part, though short, hits like dynamite. “On The Record” comes next with its heavy riffs fused with streaming synth, and it just feels so damn cool. This song has some fantastic bass segments, feeling pensive but still groovy, and I just love the overall structure.
The EP ends with “The Vermin and the Virtue”. It’s the longest piece on the release, and possibly also the most synth-forward. I love the leering wall of melody, the guitars taking on a supportive role much of the time. The song transitions through introspective vocal ambience, synth solos, and more, but I love how it slowly rises into its final moments with a melodic clarity that stamps itself on your memory.
Artificial Astronaut have leveled up, I think, and When The Familiar Ends rocks really hard. The band has a penchant for melding melody and heavy guitars, and the mix doesn’t let down any performer. This is a high intensity blast to hear.
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Find Artificial Astronaut online:
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The PROG Mind 