Artist: Artifex Pereo
Album: Time In Place
Genre: Post hardcore, Alternative rock
Label: Tooth & Nail Records

Artifex Pereo got their start back in 2009, and have been on the rise ever since. They released their eight-track EP, Am I Invisible, shortly after their inception, which helped put them on everyone’s radar. Their signing to Tooth & Nail Records solidified their presence in the scene and gave them the recognition they deserved. Now we have their long awaited debut album in our hands, and it’s time to see what their new effort has to offer.

Time In Place opens with “No Stranger To Worry.” This isn’t the best track on the album, but it’s a great song to gauge what you can expect from the rest of the tracks. It has a dynamic sound, and quickly changes gears from its fast-paced chorus to ambient verses. The band has a talented vocalist with a great range, and he has no trouble showing off some of his abilities.

One of the best tracks on the album is the first single they released, which is “Hands Of Penance.” As someone who is a fan of the unclean vocals in Am I Invisible, it’s nice to hear them hail back to those days by opening up the song with harsh yelling vocals. They unfortunately don’t do much more than that in any of the songs, but their clean vocals are strong enough to carry the album without that element.

“Laugh & The World Laughs With You” is a song that sounds very theatrical. Their presentation of the lyrics is over the top and dramatic. This is one of the songs that will stand out to you on your very first listen. Now, if you are looking for a song that’s on the opposite side of the spectrum, then you’re in luck. The following track, “Liable For Tragedy,” is one of the slowest songs on the album. It’s a nice dip in the middle of the album that gives the listener a break from the fast-paced tracks.

I could sit here all day and talk about all of the different things I like about each song, but who would want to read that? We’ll just cut to my favorite track, which is “Tied To The Sunset.” One of the main reasons this song made the top of my list is a section of lyrics that instantly were stuck in my head for days.

“Though I never see her go, I know just when she leaves. I’m kicking through her trail, grinding bitter teeth, chewing over how and why such slain brown stems from yellow; from green. Though I never see her go, I know just when she leaves. Any hint of assurance these stale days could bring, passes by a hopeless, languid head too stubborn to lift and see.”

As for the other songs, what makes that section of lyrics so memorable is the frontman’s singing, and not just the words on their own.

I feel that Artifex Pereo are Tooth & Nail’s equivalent to Rise Records’ Hands Like Houses. They aren’t heavy, but they fit right in with the post hardcore/metalcore scene. Their vocalists are relatively similar in their sound (though it seems that Artifex Pereo’s frontman has a better range), and their lyrics are always cleverly written. Artifex Pereo aren’t quite as popular as Hands Like Houses yet, but if they continue on their current path I believe they can be just as successful, if not more so.

Time In Place is incredibly catchy, engaging and overall just a fun album to listen to on repeat. With each listen you will notice a different detail that you might not have caught the first, second, or even third time around. It’s a very lyrically driven album, and that’s what I like about it so much. With that being said, there are a couple of tracks that are a little forgettable. They don’t stand out much in comparison to some of the more dynamic tracks, but even with that being the case they are still good songs. If you haven’t picked up this album yet then I recommend you do. It’s a must-listen of 2014.

SCORE: 8.5/10
Review written by Kriston McConnell

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Kriston McConnell

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