Artificial Language

History

The band formed when four musicians from Fresno’s local scene connected, later recruiting vocalist Shay Lewis from Rhode Island after posting an open call. They spent three or four years developing their sound before self-releasing their debut album, The Observer, on April 28, 2017. The single “These Aren’t Mirages” dropped five days earlier. The album’s concept centers on an observer who fails to grasp humanity, watching six separate events and eventually yearning for the Human Condition. Prog reviewer Chris Cope noted that for a first album, the band “have just about got it very, very right.” On April 13, 2019, they put out the single “Trail of Lights” and announced their sophomore effort, Now We Sleep, which arrived on May 17. The title track features guest vocals from Michael Lessard of The Contortionist. PopMatters gave Now We Sleep an honorable mention on its list of the year’s best progressive rock and metal albums, while Sonic Perspectives called it one of the year’s surprise albums.