REVIEW: Void of Vision – What I’ll Leave Behind

Void of Vision have been on gas the pedal the last few years. In the middle of recording their 3 EP series back in 2022, vocalist Jack Bergin was dealing with some serious health concerns but instead of taking a step back, the band went to record a music video, go on tour and come home to finish their 3rd EP of 2022. Throughout this endeavor is when Bergin got the original idea for What I’ll Leave Behind; originally meant to be a concept record but those plans were scrapped when Bergin had to undergo an immediate surgery due to a ruptured AVM. It was during this time when Bergin did a lot of internal retrospection and what ultimately made him decide to change the trajectory of the LP.

Void Of Vision have released their new record What I’ll Leave Behind.

First on the record is Oblivion, which immediately hits us with a dark synth melody that we come to expect from the band. Guitarists James McKendrick and Mitch Fairlie set the tone with a thick but chunky riff.

Immediately, the first thing you’ll notice is the mix and production here; the synths sit comfortably in the back behind the absolutely monstrous guitars. Drummer George Pfaender shines in the first verse as it’s just him and Joe Bergin in aggressive unison before the beautiful chorus melody kicks in. What I really enjoy on this track is that the main synth melody is the focus point; the chorus follows that synth passage which maintains itself throughout the tune.

Later we have a goth club style vibe with Neurotic. This is a really unique cut in the tracklist, almost giving a Deftones vibe on this one. We get some more subtle but sensual vocals from Bergin in the verses, but the chorus is fairly pulled back as well. There’s a lot of space and reverb as he sings “I am like everyone else; I am what everyone wants to kill”. It really shows their chops as songwriters and how effective simplicity can be, with the song really being built around its main rhythm beat and staying steady throughout its runtime.

In the middle point of the record we have Beautiful Things, which is a stripped back moment on the album. Really only composed of an eerie synth instrumental and Bergin’s soft vocals; it almost works as an interlude but also title track of the record. You can hear Bergin’s emotion as he sings “if you’re not afraid to die than what’s the point of life and those beautiful things are what I’ll leave behind”. It’s a subtle moment on the record, but an easy standout.

Nearing the end of the LP we have Midnight Sweat and Decades, which the band turn it up to 11 to bring us to the end. Midnight Sweat is a fast-paced belter, definitely a tune that’d fit beautifully in the live show. Bergin goes off on this one, giving us pure aggression for the duration of the song. The breakdown callout when he screams “Well the question says, will I ever be enough? Oh” is a huge moment you can’t help but break your neck to.

Decades gives us some catchiness to sing along to before they close out the record. It’s a rockier tune, with the massive anthemic chorus “In your head it’s all ever said but I’ve never been, never been such a should’ve been, could’ve been”. McKendrick and Fairlie go off in the second verse though, with an intricate bouncy riff mixed with some harmonics that hit the ear beautifully.

What I’ll Leave Behind is a journey into the struggles that Void of Vision have been through the past two years. As a listener, hearing the bands vulnerability and what they’ve had to endure almost brings a feeling of solace.

Knowing the journey, the band displays on this record and how they came out on top, is nothing short of inspiring. What I’ll Leave Behind just reaffirms that the band has found their own lane sonically, with no focus on those around them. It provides listeners with an experience that’s fresh, unique and flooding with creativity.

10/10

Blake Warford

October 9, 2024

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