Music Review: Embracing the Shadow- Why Varials Thrive, "WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES"

Varials is back with a ferocious album that will knock your teeth out and leave you smiling like Jack Hughes post Olympics. “WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES” is intense, heavy, atmospheric, and yet it holds a hidden beauty throughout.

“WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES” opens with the album title track, setting the mood from the intro. Although I can't quite identify the sounds, they captivated me. Then, the snare kicks in, followed by the driving guitar, and I was ready to explode out of my seat and throw down. This song is heavy, and the lyrics are even heavier. “This is where the sick and suffering dwell / My own personal purgatory / Where dreams go to die / Where all my loved ones bleed / This is where / Where the light leaves.” In just 1:59, this song signals that the album will take listeners on a journey through the mind, featuring heavy, groove-driven metalcore and hardcore.

“No Lie Untouched” opens with a heavy groove-driven beat that is pushed by drummer Sean Rauchut and guitarist Shane Lyons. The track transitions to a more atmospheric tone, allowing the muddy bass tone from Mike Foley to come through and Sean to have some clean fills to complement the overall sound. Instrumentally, "No Lie Untouched" excels at balancing aggressive elements with atmospheric segments, creating a flow that lets the song breathe.

"Illusions of Loss" and "Conscious Collapse" are songs that are filthy heavy, with a stank face as the exclamation point. "Illusions of Loss" features a standout breakdown on this album, where Sean combines the ride and China cymbal. The ending of "Illusions of Loss" and the beginning of "Conscious Collapse" flow seamlessly instrumentally while stomping on the gas pedal. "Conscious Collapse" is 2:31 of pure anger, with chugging guitar riffs, blast beats, and energy-driven breakdowns.

“Your Soul Feeds” exchanges the heavy atmospheric approach for a direct beatdown style. It’s aggressive, angry, and you can feel that rage come out in the lyrics and instrumentals. Just when you think the track can't get any more intense, Varials delivers what might be the album's heaviest breakdown. You will either have a stank face or be laughing at how heavy they go; either way, it’s pure carnage. 

Quite possibly, my favorite songs off this album are “The Hurt Chamber” and “[Wouldyoufollowme].” Both songs ooze with an atmosphere that brings the mind to a hypnotic state. “The Hurt Chamber” maintains its heaviness, but the addition of clean vocals introduces a new element that aids in leading the listener into a hypnotic state. 

“[Wouldyoufollowme]” is the breather the album and the listener need. The song's production and mastering captivate listeners, and when paired with the gentle vocals that resemble a distant whisper, and you can’t help but be in a trance. 

“Silent Demise” takes you out of the trance with a punch to the face in its intro. Sean's drumming groove in both “Silent Demise” and the subsequent track “Blissful End” injects a burst of raw energy. Combined with Skyler's raw vocals, it creates an urge to throw down. Both songs share a similar flow, which isn’t always a bad thing, but there are hints of elements that I wish they had expanded upon to introduce more variety to the song.  

"Romance II" introduces a haunting quality to the album. The lyrics "Am I closer to God / Am I closer to God without you" sent chills down my spine. Skyler's scream conveys deep agony. This track also incorporates Shane's rhythm guitar, creating a haunting yet beautiful segment that took my breath away. Not every song requires a beatdown rhythm to make an impact on listeners. 

“Metanoia” and “I’ll Find the Dark” bring back the beatdown hardcore rhythm that is present in earlier tracks like "No Lie Untouched" and "Silent Demise," but also take elements from “Romance II” and expand on those. “Metanoia” has, in my opinion, the heaviest outro on the album, intensifying as it progresses. “I’ll Find the Dark” introduces an atmospheric, haunting quality with a solo by guitarist Shane. The backing tracks enhance this haunting atmosphere, seamlessly transitioning into the final track "[Intothequiet]," which serves as a backing track outro for the album. 

The production and final mastering of “WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES” is well done for this style of hardcore. It effectively combines the muddy bass elements with the distorted guitar tones and drumming mix, allowing listeners to clearly hear all the grooves and fills. My only critique is that occasionally Skyler's vocals and Shane's guitar tones become muddled, making it difficult to understand exactly what Skyler is screaming.

“WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES” may not change the music industry, but it never set out to do so. It will punch, kick, and elbow listeners in the face with its beatdown rhythms, haunting atmospheric vibes, and lyrics that will bring you on a journey.   

"WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES" will be available everywhere on February 27th through Fearless Records. You can see Varials on tour with Unity, Heavy Hitter, and Bolt Cutter from March 12th to April 11th. Additionally, Varials will head to Australia at the end of April and will support The Amity Affliction in Europe in the fall.

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