‘Fluid Existential Inversions’ is recognizably an Intronaut album. It’s got everything you’d expect from them- prominent basslines, imposing riffs, jazzy breathers, and attempts to be as avant-garde as possible. They also have a smidgen of humor- the track names “Tripolar”, “Sour Everythings”, and “Check Your Misfortune” made me chuckle.
This album is heavier and ballsier than its earlier counterparts. There are shorter jazzy interludes and the riffs are heavily distorted and technical. In my opinion, the addition of Alex Rüdinger as their drummer has made this increased aggression possible. His impressive drum fills are a source of power throughout the album.
The album kicks off with a jarring, dissonant guitar in “Procurement of The Victuals”. This brief track has a bizarre voice sample at the end, which transitions to the album’s single, “Cubensis”. There are some frenzied drum fills and guitar tapping at the start which progresses to a ruminative, ambient section, and return to the guitar tapping at the end. “The Cull” is also heavy at the start but is atmospheric in its latter half. “Speaking Of Orbs” has the grooviest bassline on the album. The bassline dictates the melody in the song.
As for the album’s lyrical content, “Tripolar” has the least obscure lyrics. It also has great jazz interlude. The rest of the album’s lyrical content is too cryptic for me to interpret. To me, it seems like the lyrics are the least important part of their music. It is the instrumentation that Intronaut is well-known for. The vocals on the album are a good accompaniment and syncopate well with the music.
“Check Your Misfortune” has melodious interplay between the rhythm and lead guitar in its bridge. All the tracks on the album have interesting post-rock-esque sections in them. The part of the album that stands out for me is the grand, balls-out ending on “Pangloss”. The album fades out on a soft guitar section in “Sour Everythings”, providing a satisfying conclusion to a heavy listening experience.
For fans of Intronaut’s primal and heavy side, this album is a delight to listen to. They are at their most frantic and aggressive. It is also eclectic in the genres it experiments with. All the instruments create a unique soundscape together.