Leeds based four-piece Artio have never shied away from speaking their truth and their sophomore album Soul Rot is no different. Their beautifully crafted melodies mixed with the stunning vocals from vocalist Rae Brazill are hard hitting, amazing and have proven they are one of the UK scene’s ones to watch. As someone who’s seen the band grow, from touring with other rising stars South Arcade to touring industry heavyweights Vukovi and As It Is, it’s so amazing to see a band create music that is so true to themselves and so emotionally charged.
Opening track The Devil You Know kicks off the album in the right way, full of energy and with an exciting collaboration with the talented Cody Frost. It is one of those moments that feels engineered to hit you right in the chest, marrying chaos and catharsis in a way that feels tailor-made for a crowd. Cody’s snarling, razor-sharp delivery cuts straight through Rae’s metallic crunch, adding a volatile edge that turns the song into a full-blown confrontation rather than just another feature. There’s a delicious tension between the track’s polished modern alt rock backbone and the raw, almost punkish attitude Frost brings to the table, making every chorus land harder than the last. It’s loud, unapologetic, and dripping with attitude, the kind of collaboration that doesn’t just pad out a tracklist, but actively raises Soul Rot’s pulse when it needs it most.
Soul Rotting is just over a minute long, but its effects linger far beyond its runtime. The repeated plea, “Please call me back, my soul is rotting”, is devastating, delivered with shifting emotions and multiple voices that create a sense of disorientation, which is entirely the point. As the second track on Soul Rot, it’s immense, communicating its message in a simple yet deeply emotional way. The track feels like a buildup to what comes next: Bite Down. This details Rae’s experience of getting top surgery and the complex emotions that come with it. It’s raw honesty in true rock form, a heavy bassline paired with Rae’s clean vocals cutting through the noise and that contrast is exactly what makes it such a standout track.
Full On Fight For Fun is chaotic in the best way possible, built on unfiltered energy and sharp momentum. Featuring Patty Walters of As It Is, the track leans into confrontation without ever feeling hollow, turning frustration into something almost cathartic. The back-and-forth between Rae and Patty adds to the sense of tension, giving the song a restless, combustible feel. It’s loud, fast, and emotionally charged, capturing that impulse to fight not for resolution, but for the release that comes with it, a moment of reckless freedom in the middle of the noise.
The rest of Soul Rot continues in a similar vein, leaning heavily into repetition and atmosphere to drive its themes home. At just over 45 minutes, the record is good but intentionally dense, sometimes to the point where its looping structures can feel overwhelming or even repetitive. That said, the execution is undeniably clean and impressive, with meticulous production and a clear artistic vision holding everything together. Even when tracks blur into one another, it feels less like a flaw and more like a deliberate choice, a way of immersing the listener fully in the record’s emotional headspace.
Room Tone closes Soul Rot on a surprisingly punchy note, leaning more into pop-punk than much of what comes before it. The shift in energy feels intentional, injecting melody and forward momentum while still carrying the emotional weight of the record. It’s brighter and more immediate, but not shallow. Instead, it feels like a release after the heaviness that precedes it. As a closer, Room Tone works by refusing to fade out quietly, ending the record with a sense of movement rather than resolution.
Overall, Soul Rot is a bold and emotionally charged record that thrives on vulnerability and intention. Its raw honesty and polished execution make it a compelling listen, even when its length occasionally tests that intensity. While the runtime can feel slightly overstretched for a project built so heavily on repetition, the emotional payoff largely outweighs those moments. Soul Rot isn’t an easy listen, nor is it meant to be, it’s a record that demands attention, sits in discomfort, and leaves a lasting impression long after it ends.
For fans of: Vukovi, As It Is, Boston Manor
‘Soul Rot’ by Artio is out now on LAB Records.
Words by Ell Bradbury
