Unself
Conjurer make the quieter parts count on Unself. The Rugby band’s third album still has the thick riffs, harsh voices and sudden changes of speed expected from their heavy sound, but its strongest quality is the distance it covers between those extremes. Fragile singing and simple melodies give the heavier sections a clear emotional purpose.
The opening title track makes that approach plain. Acoustic guitar and an exposed clean voice create a vulnerable start before the electric guitars gradually take over. When the song becomes heavier, the change carries more weight because of what came before it. “All Apart” pushes further, combining forceful rhythms with vocal harmonies and a more distressed delivery in its later stretch.
“The Searing Glow” is especially effective in its use of pace. It begins quickly, then slows into a much heavier bass-led passage. The change makes the riff feel larger without needing a more complicated part. “A Plea” follows with a different tone, using grunge-like guitar sounds to offer a brief change in pressure. This is an album where the order of the songs helps shape the experience.
“Let Us Live” brings the contrast inside the song, moving between sludgy weight and quieter, near-whispered passages. The themes of disconnection and the wish to belong come through clearly without removing the anger. “Hang Them in Your Head” takes a more direct route, with hard, tightly controlled chugging that gives the frustration a sharper physical form.
The slower stretches remain demanding. Their weight and repetition can feel oppressive, and listeners looking for regular choruses may find few obvious entry points. Yet there is more here than a contest to produce the biggest riff. The closing “This World Is Not My Home” returns to material from the opening in a broader, more defiant form, giving the album a meaningful finish.
Unself is a strong choice for listeners who want heavy music with clear changes in mood and scale. The arrangements are direct enough to follow, while the contrast between vulnerable and forceful playing keeps the songs from becoming interchangeable. Its emotional range is as valuable as its sheer impact.
