The Shape of Pain
This review was originally written for Music Scene Media.
New Jersey artist Eric Raven is ringing in the first Friday the 13th of 2023 with their debut album, The Shape of Pain. Raven smoothly blends hardcore instrumentation, electro-punk beats, and 1980’s style synth to take the listener through their personal journey. The Shape of Pain is about “exploring the lines between triumph and depravity,” Raven says. The album discusses heavy topics such as addiction and loneliness, but also encourages giving in to your passions and finding a support network.
Immediately, the album brings the drama with “Ascension (The Gate).” The track opens with a show stopping synth, quickly joined by an all-consuming and unyielding electronic beat. Halfway through, Raven’s vocal skills kick in, setting the bar for the rest of the album. Instead of keeping the energy at 110%, Raven reigns it in at the beginning of the next track, “Anointed.” The drums bring a punk sound, and the clean vocals have a yearning and earnest tone. When the screamed vocals start, they are met with a metalcore guitar and haunting synth. The energy lets up even more to give way to “Substance.” The longest track on the album, it sets a natural halfway point with introspective lyrics and a muted tone. Clear guitar and drumbeats accompany a spooky synth, bringing a retro feel. Raven shows off a different side of their vocal talent by utilizing the deepest parts of the register. The main vocals are almost like a drone, all the while supported by ethereal harmonies. Despite changing energy levels throughout the tracks, Raven never loses the intensity.
The second half of The Shape of Pain is more upbeat, kicking off with the industrial “Afterglow.” The beat in this drum-heavy track ticks like clockwork, and tiny sounds brighten the deeper tones of a bass drum. Combined with the synth and frequent switches between the clean and screamed sections, “Afterglow” almost feels like a dance track. There is a quick reprieve in “Chance of Absolution,” a short track that floats by. It’s a bit dreamy, and Raven begs for their “chance of absolution,” before moving on to the powerful final tracks. “SAFEWORD” has lean instrumentation, instead leaning into industrial beats and deep and guttural vocals. There is a recorded sample of anti-Satanist propaganda, and an electronic breakdown fades into a second sample, this time of a 60’s-style song.
The final track, “Left Hand Path,” takes advantage of the electronic beats in an immersive way. It almost feels like being in a video game, completing a suspenseful journey or mission. It’s easy to visualize an intense light show accompanying the song. Raven wrote “Left Hand Path” about their struggles with addiction, mentioning coping with the past and their emotions as a machine. The almost robotic vocal style reflects the sentiment, as the lyrics hit evenly on the beats, bordering on militant. “Left Hand Path” is a strong closer, featuring all of the musical elements highlighted throughout the rest of the album.
Eric Raven will be touring in the northeast this February, so be sure to check if they will be performing near you. It’ll be an unmissable show, for sure.
