The follow-up to 2012's well-received
Eclipse, the Sumerian-issued
Matriarch is also the first Veil of Maya release to feature new vocalist Lukas Magyar (Arms of Empire), who joined the Chicago deathcore unit after the departure of Brandon Butler, who left the group in 2014 citing creative differences. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Taylor Larson of From First to Last, the 12-track set was preceded by the punishing singles "Phoenix" and "Mikasa," and is, controversially among fans, the first LP from the band to use clean vocals. ~ James Christopher Monger