156/Silence - People Watching
Released September 13, 2024
Jack Murray, Jimmy Howell, Ryan Wilkinson, Kyle O'Connell, Lukas Booker (RIP)
Genre: Metalcore, Post Hardcore
Intro
Welcome back. Not just you to this review but me to actually doing my job and writing. For those of you who know me personally, you know this summer was terrible and I quite literally had no time, motivation, or reason to want to write. However, this weekend closes off my first week of college classes (including a real writing class so these MIGHT be less shit moving forward). Either way, I have free time and motivation now so what better way to celebrate than putting my $20 per year I spend on this domain to good use. I apologize for the absolute jump scare that is this album cover (I don't have any reaction to the uncanny valley or similar) but this is one of the BEST modern metalcore records I have listened to in a hot minute. So enough ranting and lets get into the first review in 6 months.
Thoughts & Feelings
This album makes me feel uncomfortable and anxious the way only one other musical project has done before. And that one project is an S+ album. This album feels EXACTLY how the cover looks. Strap in for this review, and better yet, listen along to this one if you like modern Metalcore.
Smash Or Pass?
Character development (Cold Start)- SSSMMMMAAAASSSSHHH. Perfect intro to this album, a good intro to this band too. The slow heavy guitar breaking into the screamed vocals and intense drums with a literal wall of noise in the background is incredible. Mixing in spoken word and uncomfortable sound effects into the tracks adds so much to an already unique and intriguing sound, but not adding too much to where its overwhelming. Its a perfect mic of discomfort and stability. Incredible opening.
Target acquired- SSMMMASSHH. HEAVY AF OPENING. This song wastes NO time going straight into insanity. The vocals on this album are fucking amazing, Jack really uses this project to show off and I'm all for it. The instrumentals are damn good too, an uncomfortable mix of noise, hardcore, metal, and groove that combines to make a unique sound that really can't be compared to any other bands out currently. THE SPOKEN WORD CLEANS INTO A BREAKDOWN AT THE END HOLLLYYYYY.
Sleep Spikes- Smash. A little "instrumental" break with some spoken word. GOD DAMN PERFECT TRANSITION.
Better Written Villain- SSSSSSMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH. FIRST LOOK AT CLEAN VOCALS ARE A LITERAL EXPLOSION OF NOISE. Transitioning into this song with the line "God is a sick fuck" then just a noise wall. The vocals are at their best so far on this song, true metalcore with sung choruses and screamed verses. A nice slow groove bridge section to make the next breakdown hit even more when it comes except it doesn't, it keeps this melodic hardcore sound with the screaming being the only heavy elements, and then back to soft clean vocals. Then a very calm melodic ending to the song. First "LISTEN TO THIS SONG AWARD" of the album.
Product Placement- SSSMMMMASSSSSHH. THIS SOUNDS LIKE PEAK 2000's METALCORE. A clean vocal opening into screaming and muted downpicking. The clean vocals are fucking INCREDIBLE on this track. Jack is one of the most dynamic and well rounded vocalists in metal today, reminds me a lot of early Asking Alexandria, with the fact he could do pure cleans and be one of the best, or do pure harsh and be one of the best.
Blood Loss- SMASH. Slow uncomfortable opening, THEN THE SCREAMING AROUND THE HALFWAY POINT. This is by FAR the most anxious song on the album so far, with it never really having its identity, going from slow melodic to the hardcore this band does so well. This is a PERFECT emotional pace maker.
Wants I need- SSSMMMMASSSHH. This song picks up right where the last one ended, slow and melodic then BREAKDOWN HOLLLYY. This song incorporates melodic elements under the wall of screaming, and it really adds a lot. THE CLEAN VERSE NEAR THE END IS AMAZING. This band doesn't use clean vocals much but when they do its executed perfectly. Very slow melodic ending again.
Funeral Arrangements- SMMMMASSSHH. Another heavy off rip song. This song is the most "Metalcore" song since BWV, but its again executed perfectly. The clean vocals are incredible, the screaming is brutal but understandable, and the instrumental might be the best so far. HOLY BREAKDOWN.
Unreasonable Doubt- SSMMMMASSSSHHHH. HOLY FUCKING OPENING. LITERAL NOISE WALL WITH SCREAMING. It slows down a bit but remains uncomfortable and anxious, then picks up a bit for the clean vocal chorus. This might be Jack's best vocal performance on the album, its absolutely incredible.
People Watching- SSMMMASSSHH. Slow melodic spoken word opening then BOOM SCREAMING BREAKDOWN. This is the PERFECT track to be the title track, uncomfortable, heavy, melodic, and unable to even finish out before it full breaks apart.
Change Agent- SMMMASSHH. HEAVY OPENING HOLF FUCK. Definitely the heaviest song yet, and much needed. DEATH GROWLS??? I know this song has a feature and I'm pretty sure thats who's doing them, but it adds a LOT. This song has an almost grungy tempo to it near the end.
Intravenous- Smash. Just a slow pace setting instrumental, very calmi-
Terms and Conditions- SSSMMMASSSHHH. HOLY FUCKING PERFECT TRANSITION BREAKDOWN. This song comes straight out of the gates intense, and doesn't let up at all for a while. Even the slow calm part near the middle is anxious and heavy with the bass. The clean vocal verse over a nice calm instrumental is a nice touch, THEN EXPLOSIVE BREAKDOWN THAT KEEPS THE CLEAN VOCALS TO ADD EVEN MORE EMOTION. Synth ending thats neat.
Healing Process (Leave of Absence)- SMMASSHH. Slow clean opening, then as expected BREAKDOW. The way this band mixes screaming and clean vocals is incredible. The way this album can portray discomfort and anxiety is something I have only seen out of one other album, and that one is an S+. This song is a testament to that, having no time to find an identity in the song, which makes it all the more uncomfortable to listen to. Closing the album with clean vocals over uncomfortable keys is a cherry on top touch. Fantastic closer to this album.
Conclusion
This album is fucking AMAZING, by far one of the best metalcore albums to come out in the past 4 years. I made reference to it a few times but now its time to ask the big question. Is this album better than "You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To" by Knocked Loose (S+ ranked 3rd best in site history)? No. But it is an equal. This album does get an S+ but I'm torn between who cracks the top 3 in site history. I think for the time being we will have a tie.
RANK: S+
Well that does it for another weird review. What are the chances we go from a compilation review to the first tie in the rankings history. Weird. This summer sucked like I mentioned but I'm in college now, so expect more reviews and possibly even a quality boost. I apologize for the 6 month gap in reviews, but what happened this year was out of my control. As always feedback is welcome and appreciated. Thanks for reading and I will write again eventually.
-Jake (JunosBestFriend)
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