Artificer is a three-piece extreme metal band from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, blending technical precision with raw, organic intensity. Formed in 2019, the band channels the spirit of Death, Gojira, Revocation, and Opeth, combining progressive elements with the visceral energy of old-school death metal.

In 2022, Artificer released their live-recorded debut EP, Ex Nihilo, tracked at Bell Labs Studios in Norman, Oklahoma. The raw energy of the recording captured attention locally and abroad, with the band’s music reaching listeners across 13 countries. Now, Artificer is preparing to release their first full-length LP, Vanitas (2025) — a self-recorded, eight-track album exploring concepts of mortality, procrastination, and self-improvement. The final track, a cover of Death’s “Flattening of Emotions,” is set to feature a guest performance of Paul Masvidal’s solo by one of multiple notable artists the band has been in talks with. The band is open to suggestions for this feature.

Vanitas is being mixed by Stephan Kraemer, known for his work on Gojira’s Terra Incognita. Artificer chose Kraemer specifically for his commitment to maintaining organic performances and dynamic sound. The band’s philosophy rejects modern studio over-correction. This means no quantizing or no time-aligning. The band hopes for a mix which captures the natural ebb and flow heard on classic records like Human by Death, From Mars to Sirius by Gojira, and Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin. The record is being tracked without a metronome to preserve the humanity and tension in each performance.

The album’s artwork features a 1:1 adaptation of Caravaggio’s Saint Jerome Writing (1605–1606), chosen to complement the record’s meditation on mortality and introspection. The piece is in the public domain due to its age.

Lineup

• Brayden Williamson — Guitar, Vocals, Lead Songwriter

• Gabriel Durham — Bass, Lead Vocals

• Kaiden Story — Drums

The track the band considers to be the album's most accessible and single-oriented selection can be streamed below. It is track 3, titled Of Crystal & Myrrh.