VOID is the fourth full-length album from Aviana and continues the band’s backstory and the whole imagery they have been building. The creative vision of Joel Holmqvist, the album was launched at The Dome earlier this month with a crushing set where they showcased their mystery and dark but captivating presence.
Aviana – VOID
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Carol Giannattasio
After Corporation, released in 2022, Aviana do not disappoint. VOID hits hard on emotional intensity and sonic weight. Joel confirmed this is the first time they have tried to revisit both their feelings and their sound.
Joel brings in themes like death, dark on the surface, but in a recent interview, he explained that in recent years, he had lost several people close to him.
One song, RED ROOM, deals with the loss of his grandmother, news he received while being on tour, unable to be by her side. RED ROOM is maybe the most disturbing track on the record. It is about trauma and the urge to escape. Less Metalcore, more clean voice, but with a strong and unexpected breakdown.
The album opens with the intro ITER INCIPERE, Latin for “The journey begins.” It sets a very dark mood, almost like stepping into another dimension, literally, INTO THE VOID, the second track. Joel’s voice starts like a lament, then unleashes monstrous screams. Already with this second track, you understand where the album is headed.
The guitar riffs and drums build a truly dark atmosphere, ending with an atmospheric fade into silence.
FATHER is one of those songs that makes you want to rip your skin off, a real heavy hitter. It switches from sharp screams to a sad, melodic chorus. With this track, you instantly recognise Aviana’s signature.
The pre-breakdown is my favourite part:
“I’ll stay here ’til my body decays
And if I ever see a light through this thick and hollow haze
I’ll do my best to not divide my thoughts throughout this concrete maze
Seeing things as clear as day though your empty holy rays
I’ve become one with the nothingness.”
This part talks about deep depression, feeling trapped in darkness or false hope, ending with accepting becoming one with nothingness.
HEAVENLY SPARKS has an electronic, syncopated groove and a dark vibe. Joel mixes deep growls and melodic lines.
DELIRIUM, instead, is for me the most chaotic and technical track of the whole album. It is about losing control of the mind, unable to tell what is real and what is distorted by inner demons. It blends emotional melodic parts, scream explosions and a vulnerable, almost trembling voice.
The drums are my favourite part, paired with heavy but sharp guitar riffs. DELIRIUM is definitely one of my favourites on the album.
IN CONTINUA ITER, Latin for “in the continuous journey/perpetual path”, works as a bridge between the most fragile emotional part of the album and the darker, cathartic one.
STORM ABLAZE brings you back into full power after the fragility of DELIRIUM and the uneasy limbo of IN CONTINUA ITER. Here comes the explosion: massive riffs, tight drums, harsh vocals, and a magnetic chorus.
Live, STORM ABLAZE hits like a life-changing moment. The chorus is made to be screamed at full volume, and the breakdown is one of the strongest on the record.
EVERMORE is absolutely my favourite track. It is the melancholic heart of the album, introspective and vulnerable. It opens with spoken words quoting Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven:
“Eagerly I wished the morrow
From my books surcease of sorrow
Sorrow for the lost Lenore
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore
Nameless here for evermore”
A genius idea to introduce what EVERMORE will be… a punch in the stomach. It is a track that doesn’t hit with physical violence, but with emotional impact. EVERMORE does screams not anger but regret. It does not ask for salvation but understanding. It does not explode, it burns slowly.
VOID closes with an unexpected collaboration: WORLD PULSE featuring Eddie Berg of Imminence. His presence makes the ending magical, not only with his voice, but also with his violin.
Electronic elements, guitars, and drums blend with Berg’s violin to create a wide, cinematic soundscape. Joel delivers pain and determination, while Eddie brings a more melodic tone. Together, they make WORLD PULSE a beautiful, heartbreaking finale.
In short, VOID is a major step for Aviana, an album that confirms their ambition and strengthens their powerful, modern voice in the Metalcore scene.
Aviana’s VOID is out now via Arising Empire. For more details, visit arisingempire.com/aviana.
