It's the perfect soundtrack for when you're driving through a city at night feeling like a character in a sci-fi movie.
A sleek, neon-lit exploration of identity that feels both technologically cold and emotionally urgent.
Released in 2012, Synthetica represents a pivotal moment in Metric's career where they fully embraced a high-concept, synth-heavy identity. Following the massive success of Fantasies, the band retreated to their own Giant Studios in Toronto and Electric Lady Studios in NYC to self-produce a record that questioned the nature of authenticity in a digital age. The album is characterized by its 'Synthetica' sound - a blend of analog synthesizers and sharp indie-rock instrumentation that feels both futuristic and grounded. A major highlight is the appearance of Lou Reed on 'The Wanderlust,' marking one of his final recorded collaborations. The album's structure is bookended by a sense of cinematic scale, opening with the nearly six-minute 'Artificial Nocturne.' Critically, it was praised for its sophisticated production and Haines' lyrical depth, solidifying Metric's transition from scrappy indie darlings to masters of polished, intellectual stadium-rock. The inclusion of several acoustic 'Reflections' on deluxe versions highlights the strength of the songwriting beneath the electronic layers.
Put this on for
Neon signs blurring past the passenger window at 2amThat specific mirror-staring moment when you don't recognize your own eyesRain slicked pavement reflecting traffic lights in a silent cityHeadphones on, walking through a crowd while feeling completely invisibleThe quiet hum of a server room while you're the last one in the officeWatching the skyline from a rooftop as the first blue light of dawn hitsTracing the circuit board patterns on a laptop while the world feels too fast
Moments worth waiting for
The slow-burn tension of Artificial Nocturne breaking into a wide-screen synth climax
Lou Reed's gravelly, detached guest vocal providing a stark contrast to Emily Haines' airy delivery on The Wanderlust
The propulsive, stomping drum beat of Youth Without Youth that feels like a mechanical heartbeat
Sounds like
2012s production with a 2010s soul
Sits beside
Velociraptor! - Kasabian, Conditions - The Temper Trap, Mirrored - Battles, Given to the Wild - The Maccabees
Lyrical territory
self_examination, identity, existential
03Deviation
Synthetica · vs · Metric
Artist
This Album
Defiant
Mood · ↓ −10% less than usual
On this album, defiant sits about 10% less prominent than across the rest of the artist's catalogue.
