Take no notice of HALF ME’s name, because as far as quality and effort is concerned the band go all in. The German quintet certainly give it their all on debut album Soma, with their immaculate blend of metalcore, hardcore and nu metal. This assortment of genres certainly seems to be on trend, but Soma holds enough delights to convince you HALF ME are not a fad.
Opening track Wraith sets the precedent for what’s to come with its hardcore energy, ferocious drumming and impressive clean vocals. Trauma Culture is an absolute stomper while Distort punches you in the stomach with some crushing industrial metalcore. Ex Negativo is another nasty example of HALF ME’s hybrid-core; mashing up the likes of TEN56 with BORDERS, while featuring guest vocals by Marcus Lundqvist of THROWN – it’s a good ‘un.
Outbreak and I Am But A Guest In Exile boast some pretty beefy riffs while the vocals spout rage and venom. The band throw a curveball with closing track Half Me, with its electronic effects and melodic, dreamy beginning which suddenly transforms into a violent beast full of blast beats and blackened riffs.
With Soma, HALF ME have shown what they’re capable of. The talent is there to set the band apart from their peers, they just need to tap into their potential to really see their music explode. Keep watch.
This EP is just plain nasty. Slumtracks by Black Country bruisers STITCHED is a hardcore hell of brutality, rage and hate. Of course, this is all a good thing if you like your heavy music on the unforgiving side of things, but Slumtracks should still be treated with caution. Opening track Occulture is full of aggression and venom, introducing the band’s aural assault of punishing vocals and relentless metallic riffs.
If you’re still unsure of the band’s ethos, then second track Bring Back the Hate will surely drive the message home. This track is pure, metallic hardcore perfection and the hateful lyrics are bound to make Bring Back the Hate a STITCHED anthem. Singles Happy to Inflict and No One Likes a Rat haven’t lost any of their intensity, in fact they just seem to get better and better with each listen. There is no fluff with STITCHED. Every track means business and they’re not afraid to be direct – it is hugely refreshing.
Sic Transit Gloria Mundi showcases a more diverse side of the band with its hints of trap and industrial, but STITCHED still share the malice with their flawless delivery. Closing track Broken Mirror is an absolute baller which is taken to the next level with guest vocals from GASSED UP’s Dan Crossley. If you’re still intact by the end of Slumtracks, then you obviously haven’t listened correctly, spin again.
The past few years have definitely been years of growth and transformation for Northampton metallers FROM EDEN TO EXILE (FETE). During 2020 the band said goodbye to not one, but two members – their vocalist and bassist. Losing a front man would be a crippling loss to most bands, but FETE pulled their socks up and cracked on and found the perfect replacement in the form of Marcin Durmaj (ex-ASHBORN). Now they have unleashed upon the world their storming new single, Reason to Hate.
An initial listen to Reason to Hate brings forth the familiar FETE riffage we love them for, but a deeper dive unveils a shift in tones and an upgrade in production courtesy of Studio 6 producer, Stu McKay (DYSCARNATE, INGESTED, HARBINGER). FETE were also fortunate enough to have their new single mixed by the legendary Fredrik Nordström (OPETH, IN FLAMES, ARCHITECTS and BRING ME THE HORIZON to name just a few) and the overall result is FETE’s best track to date.
Guitarist, Joey Jaycock kindly answered some questions about the new single, line-up and the plan ahead. It was important to tackle the topics of their new sound and line-up first!
Q. FETE sound heavier than ever! As well as the change in line-up, what other changes have occurred to result in a bolder sound?
Joey:The main thing is that we switched to 7 strings and a much lower tuning which has given us a whole new range to work with and opened up so much for us for song writing and the overall weight of the tracks. It’s definitely very different to our previous material, but we think it was the right move for us going forward and anyone who has heard us before will hopefully agree.
Q. The new dynamic is definitely sounding more solid. How has the reaction been so far with the line-up?
Joey: It’s been really positive! We’ve been together as this incarnation since early 2022 and we’ve had the chance to play a load of really fun shows and really get settled in. It’s hard to believe time has gone so fast but we’ve had an amazing time and had some great responses. Tommy [Kellend – guitar] and Jake [Patrick – drums] and myself had been jamming as a three-piece for a long time and focussing on getting razor tight, so it was just a case of finding the right vocalist and Marcin is the perfect fit.
Q. How did the collaborations with Stu McKay and Fredrik Nordström come about?
Joey:We initially contacted Stu because he’s worked with some incredible bands and his enthusiasm for his work was immediately palpable. The whole process was so smooth, we had the best experience recording at Studio 6 and the results speak for themselves. Stu offered to hook us up with Fredrik after we were done tracking because he felt we’d be a great fit. We of course agreed, and the new track sounds immense! This won’t be our only collaboration with this production / mastering combination either, that’s for sure.
When listening to Reason to Hate, old fans of FETE will immediately notice another new addition to FETE’s sound – clean vocals! This coupled with serious and mature subject matter is further proof the band are going to thrive their new formation.
Q. The clean vocals were a welcome surprise. Was this a group decision or did Marcin have free rein?
Joey:Marcin pretty much had free rein, we’ve never had a vocalist ready and willing to do clean vocals and we just really liked the way they worked in Reason To Hate. It’s not to say that cleans are going to be a staple of all new songs going forward, but it’s really nice to have them in our arsenal, it really adds another dimension to our sound!
Q. Reason to Hate touches upon division caused by conflicting beliefs. Did anything in particular influence the subject matter?
Joey:In our opinion, there are far too many situations in the world that can apply to this situation to name just one. It’s more of an overall observation on the nature of warfare, hatred and prejudice. We all present ourselves in different ways, align ourselves to different groups and teams and all have completely different traumas and struggles in life, yet we all share the same experience of human consciousness.
Q. What do you want to show the world with Reason to Hate?
Joey:We want to show the world that we mean business!
The band have always had really bold riffs and thankfully this aspect of the band just seems to get stronger. From their debut album Modern disdain in 2017, to their last EP Age of Fire in 2020 and now Reason to Hate, FETE have always dragged the listener into orbit purely by the power of riffing. Nothing’s changed here as the new single immediately punches in with bold guitarwork by guitarists Tom and Joey.
Q. FETE riffs have always been top-notch. Which guitarists or bands have influenced your writing?
Joey:To drop some names, our main influences probably come from SYLOSIS, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, AFTER THE BURIAL, PROTEST THE HERO, DECAPITATED and REVOCATION. We love catchy and interesting riffs and big choruses so it’s safe to say these are some of our mainstays. Having the extra string has opened up so much for us in the writing department and tap into some of our heavier downtuned influences.
Q. What is the song writing process with the new line-up?
Joey:Tom sends us an MP3 of a demo and we all get the same feeling as Christmas morning as a kid. How he comes up with these riffs I don’t think I’ll ever understand, but that’s how it starts. Once we’ve all listened and made any initial suggestions, a Guitar Pro tab will follow and I learn the song on guitar.We use playback for bass these days, so we’ll lay down a bass and click track. We then will see how it translates in the practice room and work out what we’re doing for drums with Jake [Patrick] testing out different beats and fills. Vocals are the very last thing, I work with Marcin who usually has a general concept and a “skeleton” of where the vocals should go in a song, and we work on finalising the lyrics. From there we’re pretty close and it’s a case of repetition over many weeks to get everything locked in!
It seems the band are in an exciting new period of experimentation and self-discovery. With their new line-up and sound, FETE are moving from strength to strength. The future is looking bright for the band but what’s next?
Q. What can we expect from your next release?
Joey:It’s going to be a while until we drop another album or EP, we intend to keep releasing singles and focus our efforts on social media and streaming platforms in order to get ourselves in front of as many eyes and ears as possible. When we feel the time is right, we’ll think about another full length. Until then, it’s a case of unveiling our new sound and refining our process for releasing content. A waterfall release isn’t out of the question of course…
Q. You’ve taken a DIY approach with releasing the single. Do FETE plan to continue to go it alone?
Joey: We don’t plan to go it alone forever – we want to make sure that when we’re pitching to potential PR companies or record labels that we’re doing everything in our strength to get ourselves the furthest we can on our own steam. Reason To Hate came together very quickly and our main priority was to make sure that we got it out as early as we possibly could in 2023. There’s so much to learn about releasing music with a DIY approach, we believe in our product and our ability to adapt and learn on the job with each and every release.
Q. What do you want to achieve in 2023?
Joey:We want to continue to grow as a band, to develop ourselves as people, to refine our song writing, to play lots of awesome shows, to meet new people everywhere, but above all we want to release heavy music that moves people and builds lasting connections with our listeners!
Reason to Hate is out now and you can watch the video below. Warning: contains flashing images.
If AFTER SMOKE CLEARS aren’t on your radar then it’s only a matter of time until they are. We last heard the London metallers when they released their debut album Edification in 2020 and while it remained a safe record, the potential was certainly bubbling underneath. Fast forward to 2023 and the band are sounding completely energised with two fantastic new singles already unleashed upon the world (Soap Bath and The Fear featuring THY ART IS MURDER’s CJ McMahon) and now AFTER SMOKE CLEARS are dropping Loom, potentially their best track yet.
Band members Aaron (bassist/songwriter and Nick (vocalist/lyrics) kindly answered some questions about AFTER SMOKE CLEARS, their new single Loom and forthcoming EP, The Fear. With the new tracks sounding bigger and bolder than ever, it’s important to acknowledge the band’s growth since the early days.
Q. How has AFTER SMOKE CLEARS evolved since Edification?
Aaron:We’ve come a long way since we wrote and released Edification, back in 2020. The Edification process was exactly that, an intense period of learning and growth. In 2023 we have a fresh look, fresh sound, but the same laser focussed determination. Our new songs combine an all new level of heaviness for us, but intermingled with new and exciting elements. We can’t wait for the rest of the songs to be released this year.
Q. The new singles definitely sound like the band has increased in confidence. Are you ready for bigger challenges?
Aaron:The confidence levels in the band have dramatically increased, musically we feel that these are the strongest tracks that we’ve written. We have a great team behind us who have developed and grown with us and been with us through hard times. So I’d say bring on bigger and bigger challenges, we’re ready.
Loom begins with the intensity and electronic effects of SLIPKNOT but with a hardcore metal execution. The venom of the vocals along with the metallic punches really make Loom a hard-hitting track. AFTER SMOKE CLEARS mean business. Similarly to previous releases, the band expertly blends different metal styles into a coherent slab of heavy goodness with Loom. The transition from nu-metal to hardcore and metalcore along with a smattering of tech metal embellishment is so slick it sounds like the band have been doing it for decades.
Q. AFTER SMOKE CLEARS have a lot of crossover appeal, with metalcore, hardcore, tech metal and now dabbles into nu-metal. Do you aim for a particular style when songwriting or does the genre-blending happen naturally?
Aaron:There are definitely conscious and unconscious inspiration when approaching songwriting. There’s a fine line to tread because within the band we all appreciate different styles and genres, so we want to blend these, but also we want to make sure the songs have a unique and definitive identity. So a lot of thought and care goes into the production of the songs, we worked with some really talented people early on and it has definitely paid off. I’m also making conscious efforts to explore musical genres that I wouldn’t normally listen to, for inspiration, but also to get out of the music silo we often find ourselves in. Discovering new music that is an indisputable vibe, is an incredible feeling.
Q. Did any bands or albums influence the writing of Loom?
Aaron: There were definitely some bands that I was listening to a lot at the time of writing this song, particularly what I consider the new wave of nu metal, which includes bands like DARKO, TEN56, THROWN. But I was also listening to a lot of bands I’d just discovered, such as DEATH GRIPS, RUN THE JEWELS and MF DOOM. So there may be slices of all of these bands in some way in Loom.
Q. AFTER SMOKE CLEARS have upped the intensity on the new tracks. What do you draw your energy and rage from?
Nick:With the world in its current form there is so much inspiration to draw rage from. When I’m writing I just play the demo I’m working on on repeat and see where it takes me. Most of the time the vibe of the song helps to define the lyrical theme.
Loom‘s musical intensity is matched with intense lyrics referencing overthinking, despair and the unhelpful suggestions to dispel panic. The depths of feeling are crushing, with the raw vocals conveying pain and frustration.
Q. The lyrical theme of Loom is of social anxiety. What was behind this choice of subject?
Nick:I’ve experienced social anxiety since I was a kid. I used to have such extreme anxiety that I’d regularly throw up before a social occasion such was the physical intensity of it. I’ve learned through experience that the only way to address it is with repeated exposure to what you’re afraid of. It’s a simple solution but definitely not an easy one, and I felt motivated to share my experience of it in this song.
Q. The fast pace of the track definitely captures the tension and frenzy of anxiety. Was this the intention?
Aaron:The music for this track was written from a psychological place of instability. When I wrote the music, I was in a pretty dark and distractible place, questioning and double guessing myself into a frenzy. On top of this, I had caught covid so I was completely isolated, which actually kind of forced me to put this frenzied energy into writing these songs. So in a way, yes this was the intention.
With the release date of their EP ever ‘loom’ing (sorry – saw the opportunity there), it is well worth checking out the other singles AFTER SMOKE CLEARS have released from this. Title track The Fear sees CJ McMahon go hardcore instead of his traditional death metal devastation and it’s a ferocious treat. Soap Bath showcases the band’s more ambitious side with its synths, relentless energy and unforgiving brutality. The EP sure is shaping up to a beast with something for every heavy music fan. The production on the new tracks has also pushed them to the next level and cannot be ignored.
Q. The production of the new songs is sounding huge! Who is at the helm?
Aaron:So I wrote the music for the new songs, taking the helm as main songwriter after our guitarist left in early 2022. I’ve always been heavily involved in the writing and production of the sound, and taking this approach has given the songs a cohesive vibe, and huge was the vibe we were going for. We spoke with several recording studios, before deciding to work with Sphynx Studios. Wynter (head honcho at Sphynx) was exactly on the same wavelength, and knew just how to take these songs and transform them into the monsters they are today.
Q. What can we expect from the new EP when it’s released?
Aaron:The EP, which is titled The Fear is released in early May 2023, which will contain six tracks, and I think that the best is yet to come. The EP is written in a way that is best listened to front to back, each song connecting to the last both musically and thematically. The EP will contain the songs currently out now The Fear – Ft. CJ McMahon and Soap Bath plus Loom and three more tracks. We’ll be releasing two of these with videos, the final track will be a little surprise.
Q. What do you want to achieve with AFTER SMOKE CLEARS in 2023?
Aaron:I think the most rewarding thing about being a musician is being able to share your art with people who enjoy it. In the band we all have different interpretations of success, but I think there’s one thing we can definitely agree on is that we just want to share our music with as many people as possible, to feel, even a small percentage of the energy we each put into these songs, projected back at us through an audience. That is what we want to achieve right there. Plus let’s be real, some killer festival appearances would be nice too!
Everyone loves when a band bounces back. Iconic rockers PIERCE THE VEIL have faced some challenging times over the past few years and new album The Jaws of Life aims to capture how life sinks its teeth into you. Fans are certainly eager to sink their teeth into this album as it’s the band’s first release since Misadventures in 2016. After a long absence, PIERCE THE VEIL have clearly read the room as opening track Death of an Executioner screams with Collide the Sky energy; big hooks, timeless rock vibes and Vic Fuentes’ distinct vocals.
Their time song writing in Seattle has clearly made an impression as grunge makes many appearances on the album, with the most prolific track being the aptly named Pass the Nirvana – and grunge suits them! Tracks such as Flawless Execution, Damn the Man, Save the Empire and Shared Trauma showcase the mature evolution of the band with dabbles into new musical territories and a new air of vulnerability.
This album seems to reflect the developing tastes of fans and The Jaws of Life as a whole sounds like a band who have gone through a period of growth and discovery. It is quite a powerful album in its own charming way. Old fans will rejoice and The Jaws of Life is serious yet exciting enough to entice new followers into the fold. Welcome back.
Metalmance 