You know who's the star of vector/virus...it's Ray. Then it's Conner.
Vector/Virus are groove and rhythm based albums. Mainly the vocals carry the melody. These set the tone for the album. And for me, it's an album that has a dark tone to it. It's not happy like Affinity. These albums are really dark in tone and atmosphere. Which is something different for the band. They never have went full on Dark. They do have some darker elements in their older albums, but the tone of the albums are not dark overall.
The story itself isnt happy, and the music and tone that is set by the band reveals this to me. There are no happy, catchy, melodies or chord progressions, because that would ruin the tone.
And the jarring parts play into the concept and, I see it as why, they made the decision to split Messiah Complex into different songs, as it is jarring when played as one song.
I actually like the contrast the band took from Happy Uplifting Affinity, to the Darker, Sinister, Uneasiness of Vector/Virus.