This is the debut EP from this Canadian metalcore act that features the former vocalist of Strain, offering up five tracks of metallic hardcore that jumps from a chunky 90's style of power chord rhythms to more contemporary hints at melody. "Return to Grace" is the longest track, and also the most diverse, opening with surprisingly melodic basslines and even using a few slight hints at singing (not quite though) to provide an effective counter to the standard shouting vocal performance; while "Foundation" is basically a straight up metallic hardcore track that tosses in a few melodic lead runs for added texture. "Torchsong" is more midpaced and tends to create an even mix of all of the band's influences throughout, coming across as slightly more dissonant; "Bloodshot" is among the most energetic tracks with some cool picking patterns and chord phrasings; and "Year One" blends that approach with some direct melodic Swedish riffs that are actually pretty strong considering (the unexpected clean guitars layered in with the melodic basslines are also cool). The recording's nice and crisp and actually sounds pretty damn good, but I think the guitar tone needs some work to maximize the power of the songs. The drums sound alright, and you can hear just enough of the bass (it should still be louder though, the bassist is fuckin' great), but the guitars feel a little thin to me, so a more fluid and crushing style of distortion would work well to make some of the more in your face riffing much more powerful herein. The vocals also need to fall back in against the music a little more, but that's not a big deal. I do like the layout though, which uses a lot of cool textures and slick live band shots for a consistent and visually appealing appearance. The lyrics are a mix of personal commentary and loose hints at reflecting on social ills, but nothing terribly specific: "As my demons return to their form, Another day that's full of regret, And time has taken its toll, And with these tears I shall burn." Not bad. It's not exactly anything new, but there is a certain level of quality to their songwriting that could help to set them apart as they continue forth. All they need to do is beef up the guitar tone and tighten up the playing on some of the metal riffs (and a smoother guitar tone would help out on that front). They're damn close to the mark, and I like that there's a lot of energy to the writing, so this is definitely one to watch. A stronger guitar tone would've made all the difference on this one. They're definitely dropping some pretty solid material.
[Let it Burn]
Running time - 14:10, Tracks: 5
[Notable tracks: Return to Grace, Bloodshot]
Let it Burn Records - http://www.letitburnrecords.com
