{"id":231353,"date":"2026-02-24T13:42:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T12:42:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.angrymetalguy.com\/?p=231353"},"modified":"2026-02-24T13:42:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T12:42:36","slug":"unmother-state-dependent-memory-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.angrymetalguy.com\/unmother-state-dependent-memory-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Unmother – State Dependent Memory Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Independent U.K. undergrounder’s, Unmother<\/strong>, have been holding a mirror up to urban dystopian dehumanization since forming in 2019. Their 2021 debut, Lay Down the Sun<\/em>, garnered significant underground acclaim that, according to the promo kit, established Unmother<\/strong> “as a restless and forward-thinking presence within the scene.” Foregoing the nature-scapes and mythological motifs of other post-black metal outfits, Unmother<\/strong> draws inspiration from the streets and, with their sophomore effort, State Dependent Memory<\/em>,1<\/a><\/sup> examines “urban isolation, inner dislocation, and moral decline, reflecting a world formed by concrete environments and social erosion.”2<\/a><\/sup> After swapping their first “V” vocalist, Venla,3<\/a><\/sup> for their second, V. (VOAK<\/strong>), Unmother<\/strong> prepares to take the next step on their evolving musical journey. Does State Dependent Memory<\/em> offer a solution that might save our base, dehumanized society, from itself, or will it amount to so much piss in the wind?<\/p>\n

State Dependent Memory<\/em> crackles with gritty, asphaltic energy, casting Unmother<\/strong> as conscientious agitators, decrying societal urban decay in veins similar to acts like Chat Pile<\/strong> or Ashenspire<\/strong>, even if avoiding any direct auricular comparison. Departing from the rawer, denser claustrophobia of Lay Down the Sun<\/em>, Unmother<\/strong> sought slightly warmer sonic climes on State Dependent Memory<\/em>, weaving undulating post-metal textures into its mostly traditional black-metal framework. Sure, plenty of blast beats and tremolos (“My Armor,” “Bear Hug”) remain, courtesy of drummer B. and guitarists Azoso and Declwa (who also handles bass). Still, it’s what Unmother<\/strong> does with the spaces between that adds the most character, which begins with the varied vocal approach of V., who, like Attila Csihar, possesses a wider range of barks, croaks, shouts, and screams than his more one-dimensional predecessor, whose hissier, raw-blackened rasp overpowered much of Lay Down the Sun<\/em> for me. Without dulling any of the sharp edges that, well, make them edgy, Unmother<\/strong> benefits from their take on “post” as a counterpoint to tradition.<\/p>\n