Silent Planet & Invent Animate are Collaborating?!

2025 is already shaping up to be one of the most explosive years in metalcore history with major tour and album announcements already rolling in, like with two of the modern metal powerhouses gearing up for something truly legendary. Breakout stars of 2020, Invent Animate and Silent Planet, are riding high on the success of their 2023 albums, Heavener and SUPERBLOOM, however neither band is slowing down. On January 21st, they unveiled plans for a collaboration that could send shockwaves through the online metal community. Set for release on January 23rd, the rumored track, Return to One, is expected to be a monumental moment for the genre. Could this collaboration signal an upcoming joint tour? Stay tuned as we uncover more details!

Both Heavener and SUPERBLOOM were named two of our favorite albums of 2023.

Invent Animate - Heavener

I'll be completely honest, upon my initial listen to this album I found it to be good but not necessarily great. However, as the year progressed I consistently found myself revisiting the album, captivated by its incredibly heavy, eerie, and ethereal production. With each subsequent listen I discovered new nuances in each of the tracks. The groovy, catchy, and atmospheric Without a Whisper became my constant hook to the album, but over the course of the 11 tracks and 46 minutes, every song grew on me more and more.

Shade Astray stands out with my favorite breakdown on the entire album, while other highlights include Immolation of Night, False Meridian, and especially Labyrinthe. I would argue that this record boasts the best world-building of the entire year, creating a distinct mood and feeling that delves into pain and tragedy. It imparts a sense of solidarity to the listener, and with its dissonant progressive structure the album offers considerable replayability. The Texas progressive metalcore band has truly outdone themselves with this release, solidifying their status as a staple in the genre. They have convincingly demonstrated that the state of heavy metalcore in 2023 is still very much alive and thriving.

Silent Planet - SUPERBLOOM

During my first concert experience at a Christian music festival in 2015 I found myself drawn to the rock stage by ferocious growls, leading me to discover Silent Planet during their debut album cycle. Now eight years later, this band continues to captivate me with stellar records like Everything Was Sound and When the End Began. However, truth be told, SUPERBLOOM stands out as their best album to date.

The meticulous craftsmanship evident in this record showcases heavy, ear-shattering moments coupled with a newfound clean, ethereal quality to the choruses since vocalist Garrett Russell assumed all vocal responsibilities. This upgrade is most apparent in the lead single Antimatter, featuring electronic production and catchy yet heavy riffs. Personal highlights for me include the dreamy yet intense Euphoria, the blistering Dreamwalker and Anunnaki, and the beautiful closer Superbloom, introducing a modern post-shoegaze influence that resonates with my contemporary metal preferences. Across 12 tracks and 39 minutes, this California band has not only demonstrated their musical growth and maturity, but also delivered some of the finest metalcore of the entire year. The evolution of Silent Planet is truly evident in this exceptionally stellar album.