We talk about a lot of negative things on this site, and we’ve made it redundantly clear as to why that’s the case. But there can be positivity or at least a silver lining sometimes, because without that, it would just be doom all the time. No one can live that way. Bringing something brighter to the surface can be a great remedy to misery.

Belgian progressive post-metal band Psychonaut return with “World Maker,” their third album and their most varied and atmospheric to date. And it’s not that the entire record is awash in good feelings, because there is some despair woven in as the band laments ailing family members at a time of great joy and the welcoming of new life. But the band—guitarist/vocalist Stefan de Graef, bassist/vocalist Thomas Michiels, drummer Harm Peters—still manages to explode from the gates emotionally and takes you through lows that are more than balanced out by the shining highs. There is more variation to the music, more progressive waves, softer corners, and some well-placed thunder that fills this album with enough power to get your blood pumping.

The title track starts with keys glazing, dancing even, soft singing breezing as an image forms in your head. The playing pulsates, tension building as harmonized vocals numb, synth slicing into the fog. “Endless Currents” starts more aggressively before spindling, the singing soaring as the melodies follow suit. The chorus melts as the pace builds, and then vicious shrieks dash red across the clouds, the playing looping and jarring, ending in fire. “You Are the Sky” feels like it’s seeking though dark terrain, cries blistering as the playing rips, eventually growing more spacious. The tension pulls back a bit as the tempo jostles, keys woosh, and power bludgeons, singing and screaming uniting and forming animalistic partners. “Everything Else Is Just the Weather” enters into a deep, misty forest, airy prog and jazzy inflections coloring the edges, the singing soothing your nerves. Voices cry out wordlessly, the pace builds back up, and the peak suddenly dissolves into oblivion. “And You Came With Searing Light” has the guitars awakening and folding, spiraling through a daring chorus, thriving and meeting up with tormenting howls. The power smashes as the atmospheric pressure returns, clean and harsh singing tangling, hearts beating away.

“Origins” starts deeply percussively, synth swooping, eerie sentiment cooling your flesh. The guitars then take off and torch, power bursts through the clouds, and the drums blast, delivering a rousing end to this instrumental journey. “All In Time” feels rather Tool-ish rhythmically, the singing crawling, and then roars mashing and loosening bolts. The verses tend to be more serene while the chorus spills the fuel into the flames, the back end settling into sludge and devastation, coming to a propulsive end. “Stargazer” is slow driving, the howls carving, doomy thunder ringing out as the skies darken. Melodic singing slips in as the heat rises and begins to boil over, the playing toughening as wails wrench and draw blood. The guitars churn as smoke wafts, the shrieks plaster, and the tempo melts into a blur. “All Was Quiet” is a quick interlude with synth scraping, guitars folding, sitar stirring, and singing merging before the spirit fades. “Endless Erosion” closes many versions of the record, delivering chills as the guitars quiver, and howls ripple before the singing goes cleaner. The playing shifts into serenity, pulling you into a false sense of relief before the ground erupts again. Melodies sweep as the singing pulses, bringing a crushing new wave that ends everything in fury. Some versions have a remixed version of “Origins,” which is treated with different beats and echoes and feels like a slightly different animal.

“World Maker” is an album that revels in the highest of highs and the most gutting of lows, tangling with a volatile world also feeling like a more imposing factor. Psychonaut are a different machine here, grappling with life’s triumphs and tragedies and giving their music a more expansive feel. This is a record that has so many different things going on musically and emotionally that multiple visits aren’t just recommended, they’re mandatory. In a good way.

For more on the band, go here: https://psychonautband.bandcamp.com/

To buy the album, go here: https://pelagicrecords.indiemerch.com/

Or here (also U.S.): https://www.athousandarmsstore.com/collections/pelagicrecords

Or here (Europe): https://pelagic-records.com/webshop/

Or here (Australia): https://wildthingmusic.com/collections/pelagic-records

For more on the label, go here: https://pelagic-records.com/