The Band
Universal Theory is a musical project created in 2011 in Madrid, Spain by Jesús Pinilla.
The music can be described as atmospheric gothic metal with progressive lines.
The band’s line-up is:
- Jesús Pinilla: Guitars, Programming, Male Vocals.
- María José Martos: Female Vocals.
The Album
Collapse is their 3rd album. Released in March 2023. The album presents itself as heavy, dark music with introspective lyrics.
The Songs
The Colour of this Night I. The first song of the album, and starts in a big way. Very energetic track, about the night-life. It has a killer guitar solo. Male and female vocals intertwined and each takes different parts of the song. She invites him into enjoying the nightly pleasures together.
Based on True Events. As a line of the song says, “Believe your true enemies”. Calls us to watch our backs, and be aware of people who are on this planet just to cause harm, violence, and destruction.
Distant Times. Starts on the heavier side, and then it mellows down and turns into a darker song with harsh male voices at the end. The lyrics are about staying in the past, longing for better times, and nostalgia.
The Colour of this Night II. Here sings María José, the female singer. Is the continuation of the first song. The first song, it’s about the nightlife, it’s like a preview of how the story is about to develop. The city, the invitation to spend the night together. Instead, here, the couple is already together. I like this song. It has a more rocker feel. The chorus is very catchy.
Remember. He sings, that he misses her. She sings in the chorus: “Remember, you are in my heart”, then both sing the same in the chorus, at the same time, but he has now a darker voice, different from the rest of the song, vampire feels. Very romantic. The yearning for a lost love, although she sings that she still loves him. Long-suffering love.
Wickedness. Rocker feeling, more upbeat, I like it. Jesús sings with a darker voice. About established powers and how they spread lies.
Collapse. Jesús sings about life’s despair. We are surrounded by evil and darkness, pain and crime, and material life. That’s why everything must collapse.
Hope. After the collapse comes Hope. Ask for hope to carry on, as a protection against the ones that want to harm us. “Nonconformity With Your Quest. Nonconformity With Yourself”.
Everyone of You. He sings. I liked the line, “Hope’s inside everyone of you”. It is a calling to take care of what we do because Earth is not feeling well and if she dies, we do too.
Permanent Regression. Progressive feeling. Fast rhythm, but his voice is slow. It really gives the sensation of a “permanent regression” as the title of the song says, to go back in time.
The album, in general, has a mix of heavy riffs, distorted guitars, and rough vocals, combined with softer melodies and singing, and nicely played instruments. To whoever likes gothic, heavy metal and progressive music should love this album.