World Maker
Origin and band profile
I define myself as a deep metal fan who loves a sonic journey as much as sheer impact. And it was with that spirit that I discovered the Belgian band Psychonaut, formed around 2013 in Mechelen, Belgium, by guitarist and vocalist Stefan De Graef and bassist and vocalist Thomas Michiels, with drummer Harm Peters completing the most recent lineup. Musically, they move between post-metal, progressive metal, and a healthy dose of psychedelia, influences from giants like Tool and Pink Floyd (and their Belgian metallic roots like Amenra) set the tone. The album that made me stop and listen closely is their third, World Maker, released on October 24, 2025.
My immersion in World Maker
From the very first minutes, I felt as if the band had built a sonic universe revolving around the cycle of life and death, loss and rebirth, and the emotional depth that only true metal can reach. The production allows the instruments to breathe together, alternating between tension and release, as if the band’s internal ocean were swelling and retreating.
The guitars, the clean and harsh vocals, the drums that sometimes explode and sometimes whisper, all of it aligns with precision to create a complete experience. This record demands attention: it’s not something to “hit play and move on.” It asks for engagement, surrender, presence.
The soundscape and highlights
What truly struck me is how Psychonaut naturally alternates between heaviness and lightness, crafting crushing riffs that open into atmospheric, almost meditative passages. There’s a living psychedelia in the arrangements, a fluidity that makes each track unfold as if it had a will of its own, with pauses, echoes, and melodies that move like smoke over the fire of distortion.
The band also succeeds in exploring deeply human themes, birth and death, connection, and transformation, all woven into a narrative that turns the record into more than just an album: it feels like a ritual of self-discovery. Even if it’s not the band’s rawest or most aggressive work, World Maker is undoubtedly their most cohesive and refined. It breathes organically, showing a group that has matured without losing its essence. Tracks like 'And You Came With Searing Light' and 'Stargazer' exemplify this perfectly, balancing intensity and contemplation with impressive mastery.
My conclusion: worth the journey
If you asked me whether World Maker is the most immediate album Psychonaut has ever made, my honest answer would be: not exactly. But that’s no flaw, far from it. It requires investment, attentive listening, and repetition. And for those who dive in, the reward is solid: a record that grows inside you, revealing new details with each listen and, even more rarely, merging technique and emotion without sounding cold or calculated.
As a metal fan who looks for something beyond the riff discharge, I can say this is a record that made me stop, replay, and absorb. One that made me forget the outside world for 50-60 minutes. It’s a strong, emotionally charged, and musically ambitious proposition. The band shows that they know exactly where they are and where they want to go.
If you’re already on the path of modern metal with atmosphere, progression, and depth World Maker is an essential destination. And if you’re not… this album might just be the gateway.
