December 5, 2025December 5, 2025

Heartless Angels by Traiken

I keep urging people to submit even short reviews instead of just posting to Mastodon, so here I am trying to practice what I preach.

Traiken (@Traiken) just published a new album today, and it’s fantastic.

I could end things there, but here’s why I love Traiken’s music, among other reasons:

– It is instantly recognizable, which is always a very good sign.

– I like electronic music as much as the next person, and there are plenty of synths of the dirty crunchy variety on Heartless Angels, but Traiken’s music is also soaked in heavy guitars, and that’s refreshing. Well refreshing might not be the best description of Traiken’s hardcore guitar playing, but you get my drift.

– Dynamics. Yes, his music is heavy and you often get a wall of sound in your face, but he also knows when to back off, and maybe even soothe you with a few notes of celestial piano, all the better to submerge you again with his rich and powerful beats and riffs and textures.

– The chords usually define the melody. Or the melody is sketched out by the chords if you prefer. The chord progressions will often lull you into thinking you are in familiar territory, only to veer off into unexpected, but always clever and exciting, directions. And for me, finding a great balance between the familiar and the surprising is the hallmark of good music.

“Yes but sknob, what genre is it”, you ask? Sorry I don’t do genres. It’s Traiken music.

“You haven’t described this particular album at all, have you?” I’m listening to it as I type this and have heard 8 of the 13 tracks, which is more than enough to know I am going to buy it, just like the previous one.

The track titles alone are worth the price of admission.