Implant Soul’s debut album ARTEFACT blends progressive and avant-garde metal, featuring complex compositions and powerful guest vocalists.
In a world where most metal bands follow familiar formulas, Implant Soul dares to venture into uncharted territory. Formed as a collaborative international project, the avant-garde metal collective brings together musicians from Ukraine and Indonesia, creating a sound that is as diverse as the backgrounds of the artists involved. Their debut album, ARTEFACT, released on January 9, 2025, has been hailed as a groundbreaking piece of music, both for its genre-defying sound and its innovative collaborative nature.
Implant Soul is not your typical band. It operates as a collective, featuring a rotating lineup of guest vocalists and collaborators, all of whom contribute their distinct voices to the project’s sonic tapestry. The album ARTEFACT is a true testament to the collective’s ambition to break down genre barriers and create something truly unique in the world of extreme metal.
A Collective, Not a Band: The Vision Behind Implant Soul
What makes Implant Soul stand out in the ever-evolving metal scene is its approach to collaboration. Rather than being limited by a permanent lineup of members, the project embraces a fluid and diverse roster of musicians. The collaborative approach behind ARTEFACT was partly inspired by Tony Iommi and his 2000 solo album “Iommi”, where he brought together a diverse constellation of vocalists to inhabit different emotional and sonic territories. That record demonstrated how a single compositional vision could refract through multiple voices, each track becoming its own distinct universe, yet bound by a unifying core.
This allows the music to grow and evolve organically, with every track bringing a fresh perspective and sound. Guest vocalists from extreme metal acts such as Nile, Exhorder, Scour, Buñuel, Reeking Aura and Aeviterne have lent their voices to ARTEFACT, each bringing their unique style to the project. The result is a collaborative masterpiece that reflects the individual talents and artistic visions of everyone involved.
“The goal behind Implant Soul has always been to challenge the limits of metal,” says the collective. “We want to combine technical musicianship with experimental and thematic depth, creating a truly unique listening experience for our audience.”
This mission is fully realized in ARTEFACT. The album weaves complex compositions with the raw intensity of death and black metal, while also incorporating progressive and experimental elements that push the boundaries of the genre. The collaborative nature of the project allows each guest vocalist to lend their own emotional weight and presence, giving every track its own character and depth.
ARTEFACT: A Groundbreaking Debut Album
Released in January 2025, ARTEFACT is already being recognized as a revolutionary album in the underground metal scene. From the moment the opening track begins, listeners are thrust into a world of intricate rhythms, blistering riffs, and haunting vocals. Every element of the album is designed to take the listener on a journey, one that is as unpredictable as it is immersive.
The production of ARTEFACT reflects the avant-garde ethos of Implant Soul, with its rich layers of sound and themes that explore duality, contrast, and the complexity of human experience. The album is not just a collection of songs but a statement of intent: to challenge what metal can be and to demonstrate the power of creative experimentation.
Tracks like “Drawn To The Flame” and “Binded By Tendrils” showcase the band’s ability to blend technical prowess with dark, atmospheric elements. These compositions are not for the faint-hearted, each song is an exploration of intensity, aggression, and delicate balance.
Guest Vocalists: Bringing a Diverse Range of Talent
One of the standout features of ARTEFACT is the incredible roster of guest vocalists. These renowned extreme metal vocalists bring their signature styles to the project, adding to the diverse soundscape of the album. Guest appearances include members from iconic bands such as Nile, Exhorder, Scour, Buñuel, Reeking Aura, and Aeviterne, each contributing to the unique character of each track.
For example, Nile’s Brian Kingsland brings his signature growls and death metal intensity to “The Infernal Crux”, Will Smith of Reeking Aura carries that unmistakable inhuman depth on “Binded By Tendrils”, a growl that sounds purely tectonic with calculated yet ritualistic phrasing, while the haunting vocals of Buñuel’s Eugene Robinson give “Ecstasy Of Flame” an eerie, atmospheric quality. These collaborations are a testament to Implant Soul’s commitment to exploring a wide range of vocal styles and blending them into a cohesive, innovative sound.
Redefining Collaborative Metal Projects
Implant Soul is not just a metal band; it is a paradigm shift in how metal can be created and experienced. By breaking away from the traditional band structure and inviting diverse guest vocalists to participate, Implant Soul is redefining the very nature of collaborative metal music. The resulting album, ARTEFACT, is convergence, a communion of minds dissolving into shared frequency, where distinct voices blur into single evolving entity.
What makes Implant Soul’s approach so revolutionary is the emphasis on thematic depth and musical complexity. Each track is a microcosm of the project’s larger mission to blend the technical precision of metal with deep, experimental themes. From the album’s abstract concept to the highly technical musicianship, ARTEFACT is a testament to the limitless possibilities of what metal can achieve.
A New Era for Avant-Garde Metal
Implant Soul’s debut is an important milestone in the world of avant-garde metal. The collective’s unique approach to songwriting, collaboration, and concept development offers a fresh perspective on the genre. By embracing a diverse array of influences and guest musicians, ARTEFACT is redefining what it means to create boundary-pushing metal music.
Critics and fans alike have taken notice of the album’s impact. Metal Review Blog called ARTEFACT “a groundbreaking metal album, every track is a unique experience,” while The Progressive Subway praised the project for redefining collaborative metal music. Metal Devastation Radio also lauded the album’s “ambitious, technically brilliant, and immersive” qualities, highlighting its ability to push the limits of what extreme metal can be.
Implant Soul has set the bar high with ARTEFACT, and it’s clear that this is just the beginning. With their commitment to innovation, experimentation, and collaboration, Implant Soul is poised to continue making waves in the metal scene for years to come.
Why ARTEFACT Matters
ARTEFACT is more than just an album, it’s a bold declaration that metal can be more than just heavy riffs and fast tempos. It can be a platform for creative experimentation and collaboration that transcends genre and nationality. Implant Soul’s approach offers a new way of thinking about what a metal album can be, and ARTEFACT serves as a blueprint for future projects that dare to push the boundaries of what’s possible in extreme music.
Whether you’re a fan of experimental, progressive, or death/black metal, ARTEFACT is an album that demands attention. Its complex arrangements, dissonant and unpredictable riffs, thought-provoking themes, and diverse guest collaborations make it an essential listen for anyone looking for something new in the world of avant-garde metal.
Discover ARTEFACT and explore the world of Implant Soul on Bandcamp.