The past few years have felt like a somewhat semi-revival for nu-metal, despite it being a phrase that is somewhat loosely thrown around. The visceral and violent genre is making a foothold in the scene and seemingly going from strength to strength. Graphic Nature are no strangers to those who have been keeping tabs since their duo of singles “grit” and “mortal fear” in 2019, who now deliver their much anticipated debut EP new skin.
The immediate eyebrow raiser of this EP is that it runs at a sweet runtime of just over ten minutes. The somewhat short length is almost fitting to what is at hand, it’s a quick and violent cocktail of the subject matters at hand. Graphic Nature hand no eloquence to what they are addressing here, screaming “I’m fucking sick of them acting like they understand” on opener “chokehold“. The chaotic and brutal nature of the EP capturing the depths of the mind that folk can find themselves in. Often there is no beauty in the sharp end of mental wellbeing, with each moment addressing it as uncomfortable and blunt as new skin delivers it to be.
With each listen there is plenty to explore here, within the very human message at hand there are layers to be found. The rhythmic guitar riff originally presented in “chokehold” being replayed as a snake charmer’s pungi during “new skin” is where the EP hits its well timed peak. The EP also enters its darkest moments, with lyricism of “Tie the noose and just let me leave” layered in and around the hypnotic sampling presenting the allure of such bleakness.
Within the despair, aggression and violence presented, new skin becomes a beast that offers some of the finest up and coming nu-metalcore in the scene. In both a good and bad way, the EP leaves you wanting more. The evident talent at hand in this group combined with the desire of wishing there was just a bit more on their debut record. The feral nature of new skin, while not unique, is something thin and few in the scene currently which makes it a stand out release. Graphic Nature are no doubt a unit to keep tabs on in the future and if they can expand on this sound they will be a force to be reckoned with.
8/10
new skin is out this Friday via Rude Records, and can be pre-ordered here.