ARTIO - SOUL ROT
All great albums start somewhere. In this case, the record’s creative vision and mere existence were born from a moment of vulnerability: “Please can you text me back? I feel like my soul is rotting inside of my body.” When lead vocalist and lyricist Rae Brazill sent this message back in 2023, little did they know that they had just ignited the very spark that would light the way for Artio’s next project. Almost 3 years later, these same words are dispersed episodically within ‘Soul Rotting’ from voices around the world, as Artio’s fans speak out against dark ambience and ominous beeping - an entire community and journey immortalised within the album’s transition track.
In an increasingly humanless landscape, community is the beating heart that keeps this band going, made evident by the fearless sincerity and outspoken songwriting that sits at the core of each song - a presentation of self-expression that seems to be as cathartic to the listener as to the artist. Soul Rot places itself within a festering, nightmarish landscape to explore the decaying of humanity and the self. Fueled by frustration, self-doubt and desperation, the album wades through dark waters to reach relief, though not without some detours along the way for introspection, longing and satisfying breakdowns.
Rising stars within the alt-rock space, Artio are part of a powerful movement reinventing the genre with fluidity, transparency and nuance, offering a filterless insight into the inner conflicts of being an authentic creator within a profit-driven market. Their DIY ethos has never felt stronger, and yet not a single corner has been cut in their dynamic, skin-tight production. All 14 tracks delve deep into the soul, laying their consciousness bare for all to indulge in as they explore queerness, relationships and creativity with incredible precision against a dark but lively soundscape.
Channelling the spirit of poignant voices like Vukovi, PVRIS, Boston Manor and Twenty One Pilots, this quartet blend from a range of genres to carve out their own space within the scene. From the very first notes of explosive opening track ‘The Devil You Know’ (featuring Cody Frost), to the intimate, moving strings arrangement on ‘O Negative’, the powerful swagger that drives us through ‘Soda’, the fusion of heavy instrumentation and electronic flourishes of ‘Let It Be A Void’, and the crystal clear and gently simmering ‘Vertebrae’, playing this body of work from front to back feels less like listening to an album and more like experiencing the growth of a living, breathing being as it ebbs and flows through the many facets of existence.
Alongside their own better-than-ever storytelling, the album is also home to many collaborations both across and outside of the music industry. A standout, contrasting moment of Soul Rot is ‘Death Stems’ - a haunting performance of spoken-word poetry by goodnighttheskye (who also recently hosted the album’s release party in Leeds), accompanied by glitch-like synths that, combined, paint a sickly picture of decay. The additional appearances of names like kahal and CJ from Love Rarely highlight the collaborative, community spirit of the album - reflecting a shared experience and communal voice while still retaining Artio’s unique songwriting style.
Soul Rot is a testament to untangling yourself from the deepest, most horrifying parts of your psyche, finding life at the very wake of your own spirit, and holding onto the core of what makes you, you, even when the world around you is falling lifelessly to the ground.
Heather Swift
★★★★★
