InRetrospect - current_state. - EP Review

InRetrospect - current_state. - Independent

Track List:

1. substrate.

2. current_state.

3. deadweight.

4. safe_haven.

5. eclipse.

6. counting_days.

The UK's InRetrospect is everything I want in my modern metalcore bands, and I hope it's the same for you. When I was first introduced to the band, I felt it from the first note and pound of the drums in the track 'safe_haven.'. Luckily, that feeling continued throughout InRetrospect's singles and their new EP 'current_state.'. I'm sure everyone can think back to some staple introduction EPs in the scene (I'll wait), and after listening to 'current_state.', I'd be hard-pressed not to name it as a great new edition to that list.

The band mixes modern metalcore genres with ease. There are many metalcore staples throughout the EP, including growl screaming, pretty choruses, and chugs (of course). But when these elements are not only done right but expanded upon, you can't help but take notice. There's also some programming/electronics, but it's kept to a minimum to add to the atmosphere. But, again, that's a veteran move from a relatively new band. InRetrospect is a band that feels polished like they've been around longer than they actually have.

The entire band is technically sound, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention their vocalist Nathan Biddles. Nathan is covering the singing and screams in the EP seamlessly. Not only that, he's covering multiple styles of each style with the range to pull it off. It's a pretty impressive feat while keeping the music exciting and far from stale, which can sometimes be an issue in modern metalcore. From the music videos available, the vocalist also has a presence that must make live performances stand out. Even as a relatively new band, the sound is crisp, well-produced, and not oversaturated.

Each track brings something new to the EP. The intro track 'substrate.' fades in slowly and starts with impassioned singing before bringing in screams for the first time, layered with some great riffs and back and forth vocals dynamics. Then, a track like 'deadweight' hits you quickly with a faster tempo and low screams into a catchy melodic chorus. Throughout the EP, there are plenty of melodies and hard-hitting instrumentation. Soaring vocals and brutal lows. The lyrics are passionate and can often get caught in your head. You could easily see yourself singing along live and jumping in the pit the next second. It's cliche, but there really is something for everyone here.

'current_state.' gives a taste of what the band is capable of, but it leaves the listener craving more as it comes in at 6 tracks in total. Of course, that's not a bad thing to keep people's attention, and what's also nice is that the EP has replayability. Each song/single can realistically be added to any metalcore playlist for repeat listens. I can't help but look forward to the next outing by InRetrospect.

InRetrospect's new EP, 'current_state.' independently comes out on June 10th. Make sure you support InRetrospect by visiting the following links:

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The Plot In You - Swan Song - Album Review

The Plot In You - Swan Song - Fearless Records

Track List:

1. Letters To A Dead Friend

2. Fall Again

3. Face Me

4. Too Far Gone

5. Paradigm

6. Both To Blame

7. Too Heavy

8. Enemy

9. Whole Without Me

10. Freed

When I spoke about Landon Tewers last (and before that, too), I reviewed his previous solo release, 'Frontal Lobe Submission.' I started the last couple of reviews by saying, "This is Landon Tewers, not The Plot In You." Now though, I finally came to the conclusion that there's no separation. Landon IS The Plot In You as much as he's a multidimensional solo artist. 

This is as evident as ever, even in the beginning of the journey through 'Swan Song,' the fifth full-length album from Landon and The Plot In You. The opening track, aptly titled 'Letters To A Dead Friend,' sounds, for the first minute and a half, or so, like Landon's solo material. Another track, further along in the album, sounds familiar to his side-project Ai640. And you begin to realize that he's able to blend so many genres/projects/styles into a seamless tapestry that is undeniably ahead of the curve. Ahead of the curve and ahead of any of the current trends stagnating certain bands in scene music.

The album is undeniably dark. As I mentioned previously, the first track's title should give that away. In tune with that, a deeper dive into the lyrics will strike a chord few have the ability to in modern music. As the down-tuned guitars build anticipation and the raspy screams begin, Landon's haunting confessions of sorrow and self-reflection mentally shred you. This is often the case in each new track of the album. Landon expresses so much passion in gutwrenching stories of loss, separation, relationships with others, and relationships with himself that it's tough not to look inward and evaluate your own past experiences. Each track holds a specific weight and significance.          

In contrast to the album's lyrics, the instrumentation paints with a broader stroke. Electronics are used in unique and exciting ways that won't become tiring, overplayed, or cringe-inducing. More pop-inclined tracks sound in contrast to their lyrical content at times but don't sound forced or contrived. And then there are the "heavier" tracks that showcase dynamic mixes of melodic and angst-ridden singing and screaming. If you want to hear some of the better passionate and heartfelt screams in the scene, you'll find a multitude in 'Swan Song.' 

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Capstan - Separate - Album Review

Capstan - Separate - Fearless Records

Track List:

1. pretext

2. shades of us

3. take my breath away noose

4. alone (feat. shane told)

5. blurred around the edges (feat. saxl rose)

6. tongue-biter

7. abandon

8. shattered glass

9. sway (feat. charlene joan)

10. decline

When I look at the scene's landscape, especially in the category of post-hardcore bands, Capstan is still a relative mystery. And they're a mystery in a couple of ways. First, they've been making progressive post-hardcore for a while now, but they're still able to mix up their sound and keep you on your toes. Second, even though they're on a famous scene label, perhaps the most popular, at this time, they're still seemingly separate from the pack.

Perhaps, that's partly where the title of their sophomore full-length album title 'Separate' comes from. If so, it shows a band capable of deeper insight and self-awareness than many in a similar position. However, with 'Separate,' Capstan is in a challenging situation. Do they continue where EPs and their last full length (‘Restless Heart, Keep Running’) left off, championing melodic post-hardcore? Or do they add in some other popular genres and follow some of the current trends? The lure of that balance can be treacherous and has led many bands to tip the scale in sometimes unfavorable directions.

After listening to 'Separate,' though, Capstan has skillfully navigated those perils and come out the other side with another excellent addition to their discography. It has everything you want from the band, progressive and technical instrumentation, passionate screams, melodic singing, and great storytelling. But, they also stepped out of their comfort zone with a few tracks on 'Separate.' 'take my breath away noose' may be their most giant leap so far. The track sounds momentarily out of place, with a jazzy hook and pop feel. But instead of going full trend, the technical instrumentation is still there. It shows that the band has a ton of range available (and probably even more still to come).

But that isn't all. The choices to "separate" themselves from the pack can be heard in tracks like 'alone,' where the heaviness in the track is balanced throughout with a very catchy chorus. Still, when a clear opportunity for a "standard" breakdown appears, Capstan changes their sound up and falls into a beat instead. It'll be interesting to see how that track is played live, for sure. The band features a few artists as well to mix things up. First, Shane from Silverstein makes an appearance in the before-mentioned track. Later, Saxl Rose and Charlene Joan add their unique touch to their songs, differentiating and diversifying styles. All bringing something more to 'Separate.'

The point of music isn't to only find something "new" and latch on because it's...well, "new". But, when a band adds more dimensions to their sound and does it well, THAT'S when it's worth paying attention to. Capstan has continued to evolve as that band. They've always had a niche sound, but one that can consistently be expanded upon. The "heavy" is there. The melody is there. Every member is highly talented in their place in the band. Each has many moments to shine in 'Separate.' Capstan is a band that consistently impresses, and 'Separate' is another culmination of that talent that people should be paying attention to.

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Wither Away - I Won't Find Hope In You - Album Review

Wither Away - I Won’t Find Hope In You - Independent

Track List:

1. April (Spring Is Coming)

2. Kagune (Ruin Me)

3. Shadow Form

4. I Won’t Find Hope In You (Feat. Ricky Armellino of HAWK) - Single

5. The Town Where Only I Am Missing

6. Persona (Feat. Hotel Books)

7. Dark Room

8. Cherish Your Friends - Single

9. Stigmatized

10. Your Name.

After four years, Reading PA's Wither Away has returned with an ambitious follow-up to their debut EP. This time, they demand to be heard, and I recommend you listen. 

Right away, an interesting note when it comes to the visual representation of Wither Away, in most cases since the start of the band, a pagoda has been a strong structure utilized in their first singles to their debut EP 'The Words We Live By, The Actions We Don't Take.' But now, on the cover of 'I Won't Find Hope In You,' the pagoda is set ablaze. Is it now a symbol of the desecration of inner peace, the destruction of what we believe is valuable in this world, or destroying that part of you that was holding you back? 

It's challenging to put Wither Away into a musical category because they utilize multiple genres very well. At times, there are flashes of an emo-rock band, melodic post-hardcore, or even alternative rock. But what does it all really mean? Really, it means they're comfortable making whatever music they want, and it shows in IWFHIY. From the instrumentation moving from melodic to aggressive to the clean (singing) vocals to out of nowhere uncleans (screams), Wither Away keeps you on your toes and, more importantly, keeps your attention. JJ's vocals are strong while showing weakness in the storyline while weaving multiple vocal disciplines into a cohesive story. The instrumentation is dynamic, drives when needed, and creates an atmosphere integral to making that comprehension through the album.

Tracks range from discussions, almost conversations asking questions of depression, religion, and does belonging even exist? The fourth wall is even broken in the track 'I Won't Find Hope In You' as you're told, "I wish that I was only writing lyrics when I said that I don't like having fun. Depressed but now I see there's beauty in this melody". I recommend listening to the album while reading the lyrics to capture any nuances that may have been missed.

In the track' Stigmatized,' JJ repeats lines towards the end of the track with the solo backing of guitar-only in a melodic fashion. More instruments join in, and JJ's vocals become more pleading and emotional. He screams, "You're dead to me," his last line and almost every other band would kick everything into high gear to either restart the chorus or get one more semi-breakdown squeezed in, but Wither Away doesn't, and instead, play out more melodically and calm. That's confidence in one's musical direction. 

That's one of the keys to IWFHIY, confidence. In every facet, Wither Away has made an engrossing album built like the pagoda with confidence. Confidence in their musical ability to draw you in, keep you on your toes, create an atmosphere, and tell a compelling story.

Not only did Ricky Armellino (HAWK, Ice Nine Kills) mix and produce the album (a fantastic job of keeping tone and ambiance), but he also added his featuring abilities, as did Hotel Books. Both features add an extra layer to the dynamics of IWFHIY and fit in nicely. The only things that ever felt out of place were small autotuned pop flourishes in the final track 'Your Name.'. It's nothing that would ruin the track; it just feels out of place with the tone of the rest of the album.

I have been a fan of Wither Away since their debut EP, but they added another dimension to their abilities with 'I Won't Find Hope In You.' The album's flow is precise, layered, and the balance of singing and screaming is unrivaled. You'll never feel like you're worn out or following the same template set by others. The band has genuinely made something personal of their own and shared it with an audience.

Wither Away has done anything but, with their new full-length release, 'I Won't Find Hope In You.' Make sure you listen and support them. 

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Convictions - I Won't Survive - EP Review

Convictions - I Won’t Survive - EP - Independent

Track List:

1. The War That Followed Me Home

2. Wreckage

3. The Price Of Grace

4. Teeth

5. Hurricane

6. Everything I Never Told You (Instrumental)

7. Last Cell

Is the scene ready for blistering metalcore therapy? With their new EP, Convictions certainly believe so, and I tend to agree.

Somewhat fresh off their separation from InVogue Records, the newly independent Christian metalcore band Convictions have created a mixture of heavy music and pure emotion that may not have been accomplished before (or maybe not accomplished as well). There have always been tales of sadness in metalcore, that’s well-worn territory, and some bands do it very well. But Convictions haven’t created a concept album of relationship heartbreak (just heartbreak of a different kind). 

Through two years, Convictions performed a series of interviews with friends, family, and fans (maybe somewhat indistinguishable from each other at this point), covering personal stories of survival. The topics range from cancer to suicide, and each track, as you might imagine, hits hard. And in this case, I’m not talking heavy, even though they definitely are. In fact, this may be the heaviest Convictions has been so far in their career. Lead vocalist Mike Felker says it best, “I want to be heavy with intent.” Truer words have never been spoken in this case.

One of the significant parts of ‘I Won’t Survive’ is listening to the instrumentation, dynamic ebbs, flows, and deeply personal stories. You can tell that Convictions chose stories to share that are universal. With all the awful things that can happen in life, there’s a high likelihood that you’ll relate directly to one or more of these tracks. With that connection, the hope is knowing that there are ways to survive that pain and come out the other side stronger, as the people interviewed did. But, if that’s not your style, and you just want to mosh and bang your head, Convictions’ have you covered as well. You can just zone out and let the music do the rest. There’s no way this doesn’t play well live when shows return.

‘I Won’t Survive’ opens up with the single ‘The War That Followed Me Home. A story of PTSD layered with metallic accents, low lows, and a surprisingly catchy chorus for the topic, but that will be a running trend throughout the EP except for the track ‘Teeth’, which is settled right in the middle of the release and is easily the heaviest. No singing/clean vocals, just pure anger. Though it does boast what may be the most positive lyric of the EP, “Through our suffering, we are all connected.” Felker also states that’s it’s almost a summary of the EP and what brings the concept together. 

‘The Price Of Grace’ covers the topic of suicide, something that happened recently to a Convictions’ fan. The story is told by another Convictions’ fan who plays a massive part in the track by adding lines that the band placed in the song itself. In his own words. In his own voice. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. It’s so well done in the song that you wouldn’t be able to imagine it without it once you’ve heard it. 

Even though Convictions believe this to be possibly their most polished release, working with such an accomplished producer in Andrew Wade (responsible for many scene band’s sounds including A Day To Remember, Motionless In White, and The Ghost Inside, just to name a few) will undoubtedly make that accurate. Still, the album has a raw feeling to it as well, at least in my opinion. And “raw” doesn’t mean “produced poorly” or “lazy.” Maybe it’s how the lyrics hit, perhaps it’s how the vocals land, or maybe it’s the overall combination of everything together, but that “raw” feeling is precisely where it should be. Even with the instrumental track, this is an extremely hard-hitting release on every level. 

Here’s the business side of things. “I Won’t Survive” is a considerable achievement for Convictions and a statement release for a newly independent band. It’s entirely possible that with the support of loyal fans, this could be one of Convictions’ most significant releases, but even if it isn’t, any label who hears it shouldn’t let them stay independent for long. 

And here’s the conclusion. “I Won’t Survive” can be an extremely emotional album. The conversations brought to life are deep and meaningful, and there’s the absolute chance that listening to these songs will be therapeutic and cathartic for many. The connection achieved from band to listener is stronger, possibly than ever before. “I Won’t Survive” is the manifestation of how important music can be. This is an absolute must-listen not only for any metalcore fan but for anyone who wants to hear passion and conviction in their music.

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While She Sleeps - SLEEPS SOCIETY - Album Review

While She Sleeps - SLEEPS SOCIETY - Spinefarm

Track List:

1. ENLIGHTENMENT(_)

2. YOU ARE ALL YOU NEED

3. SYSTEMATIC

4. NERVOUS ft. Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro

5. PYAI

6. KNOW YOUR WORTH (SOMEBODY)

7. NO DEFEAT FOR THE BRAVE ft. Deryck Whibley of Sum 41

8. DIVISION STREET

9. SLEEPS SOCIETY

10. CALL OF THE VOID ft. Sleeps Society

11. DN3 3HT

If you don't enjoy CAPITALIZATION, While She Sleeps may not be for you...(kidding, of course)

In their highly-anticipated follow-up to 2019's 'SO WHAT?', Sheffield UK's While She Sleeps seems to not only draw inspiration from their fans but have also created an album specifically for them.

That's not to say that 'SLEEPS SOCIETY,' the new album by While She Sleeps (WSS), can't, and won't, be enjoyed by many, it's just that the very name of the album is the name given to supporters of WSS. Not only is 'SLEEPS SOCIETY' the name of the album, but there's also the title track, and in the track' CALL OF THE VOID,' Patreon supporters of WSS make an actual appearance. If you ever felt like a band created music for you and only you, it might actually be true in this case.

WSS has gone through some significant changes over the years. There have been label structure changes, CAPITALIZATION, but also massive changes in sound. 'SLEEPS SOCIETY,' WSS's 5th full-length album, is a more refined, maybe sharper update to 'SO WHAT?', but they're both very different from 'You Are We' or 'Brainwashed,' for instance. 'SO WHAT?' started the capitalization trend and added a significant amount of electronics and genre shifts. Anyone expecting a straight-up metalcore band, I've got news for you; this isn't them. 'SLEEPS SOCIETY' continues the direction of 'SO WHAT?' with more of a mixture of electronicore, metalcore, nu-metal, and alternative rock.

The start of 'SLEEPS SOCIETY' is pretty unique in that it isn't a short intro track, and it isn't a single. It's actually five minutes and three seconds long, which is a rather long intro in most cases, but it keeps the listener's attention right away, which can be challenging to do with a track that long. 'ENLIGHTENMENT(_)' begins with an uplifting spoken-word call to arms that transitions into a fun guitar riff and hard-hitting instrumentation. The mixture of clean (singing) and unclean (screaming) vocals haven't changed and add a catchy balance, especially in the chorus. The track showcases everything you'll hear in the rest of the album from mixed breakdowns, progressive guitar, uplifting lyrics (albeit with an edge), and heightened genre mixing.

The tradition continues with the following tracks 'YOU ARE ALL YOU NEED' and 'SYSTEMIC.' It'll be tough to not bob your head in unison and imagine how well these tracks will play live when live shows are back. The tracks start furious with quick pacing but then pull back to give the listener a breath before hitting them hard again. "SYSTEMATIC' also really plays well as an updated nu-metal sound.

Things slow down in a way with 'NERVOUS,' a single released earlier and the first track to have a feature. Simon Neil does an excellent job of adding an extra layer to the vocal style of Loz, and the track balances the heaviness and melody well. That's definitely a theme as the album progresses. As mentioned before, there's a lot of genre mixing, emphasizing nu-metal additions, which play well when combined with a metalcore backbone.

'DIVISION STREET,' besides the interlude, is the first significant departure in the sound of the album. It's a piano-backed sing-along that I imagine would be an excellent intermission song live. Easy for fans to sing along to while giving the band a much-needed break. And just like that, it's back to the WSS's sound for the remainder of the album. 'CALL OF THE VOID' could play well on alternative rock radio and could easily be a closing song in a live set. It's anthemic, passionate, and once again, speaks directly to, and with, the listener. But it's also a trick ending...

The final track' ND3 3HT' isn't necessarily a song, but more the band stripping things down and speaking directly to the fans. With the piano in the background and the band members' voices distorted like an old-school, incoming transmission from outer space, the members describe their personal feelings and give their thanks. The track lasts seven minutes and three seconds and may not be one that many listen to again, but for the long-time and biggest fans, this track will mean a lot and have multiple repeat listens. For While She Sleeps, this is the most fitting end to 'SLEEPS SOCIETY' I can imagine.

'SLEEPS SOCIETY' probably won't bring back any fans While She Sleeps might have lost through their changes in sound over the years, but that wasn't the point of the album. With the refinement to 'SO WHAT?' in 'SLEEPS SOCIETY,' While She Sleeps seem to have found precisely the sound they want, but more importantly, the fan base they need. So far, While She Sleeps may have the most interactive band/fan relationship, it seems to bring out the best in the band, which is all a listener can ask for. 'SLEEPS SOCIETY' is a passionate, hard-hitting, dark, uplifting, and possibly a fantastic album to play live. Time will tell, of course, but until then, 'SLEEPS SOCIETY' is an "ode to the fans" that has long-lasting appeal to anyone in the scene.

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