SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: IAMX – FAULT LINES²

IAMX
FAULT LINES²
UNFALL

IAMX’s newest album, Fault Lines², explores a vast range of emotions, and, in turn, adds to one’s experience of life through his creations. This compilation of songs exudes feelings of passion, brought forward through the pairing of strong vocals and powerful electronic tones.

Half of the album’s intimacy stems from the electronic beats and sounds purposely included in the music. The beats in particular are quite personal, in the sense that they feel as though they are coming from the core of the listener. Most notable in “Infinite Fear Jets”, the pulsating thump throughout the song resembles the feeling of being in a club or a car where the bass is so deafening that one can feel the rhythm in their chest. Unlike a raucous environment, however, IAMX’s music doesn’t feel invasive or blinding. Instead, it feels sensual and revealing.

The other half of the album’s intimacy is directly correlated with the raw vocals of IAMX and Hafdís Huld, the latter being featured on the album in “The Ocean”. Huld’s hymn-like voice balances IAMX’s range of sound, which leads the album to create a feeling rather than discuss one. “Deathless Wilds” is the best example of the main artist’s capabilities as a singer, and as a songwriter. Similar to the effect of artists such as Sleep Token (particularly in reference to “The Summoning”), the balance between sound and vocals, as well as the impressive execution of the two, make for a song that is quite expressive in nature.

The songs in Fault Lines² are hot-and-heavy, life breathing out of them. This is impactful on the listener, but there is no soft and delicate side to the artist in this album. That is, unless you want to consider “Life Before Death”, yet even here the beats feel too alive for a song that demands slightly less. Having at least one song where IAMX’s voice is almost entirely isolated would portray a different level of passion that the artist is clearly capable of. This would have been desired, as a track such as this would stand out when compared to the rest of the album, adding some variety to an already varied collection.

As a whole, Fault Lines² is an impressive piece of art that IAMX has skillfully crafted together with nothing more than his voice and his manipulation of sound. While a more vulnerable piece at the end would have been appreciated to portray different layers of passion, each song still achieves its desired effect on the listener. The familiarity one can personally construct with each song is comforting, and that is what makes this album worth listening to; it envelops you in its warmth and makes you feel a part of it.

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