“I wonder if I’ll ever be worth the remembrance.”
As if late it feels like it’s raining EPs, with every band & their mother dropping some of the most amazing stuff they’ve ever written in the form of these short releases. Joining Void of Vision, Cherry, Against The Current & Boston Manor among others responsible for the hailstorm of EPs released this year are Pennsylvania based metalcore quintet 156/Silence. Just a year after their stellar full length album Irrational Pull, the band have exceeded themselves sonically to deliver an amazing ensemble of four mind blowing masterpieces.
They take no prisoners as the opener, which clocks in at under a minute, kicks off into ruthless aggression the band is so widely known for from the get-go. “Beginning’s End (Nobody’s Home)” serves as the perfect opener that seamlessly flows into “A Violent Delight”. True to its name, the song is blast when it kicks off, bringing the feeling of a moshpit directly to your ears. Vocalist Jack Murray’s uncleans are their best here, blissfully screaming out his frustrations. The cleans peppered in between the already phenomenal vocals further add a touch of masterful dynamics to the track.
“The Wrong Sense” kicks off straight into the aggression that the band is known for. Chaotic & abrasive as is the norm, which they pull off extremely well. A perfect mix of the older & newer sounds that core has offered, 156/Silence do a masterful job of giving justice to both the sounds. “Coup de Grâce (The Final Blow)” starts off with an ominous spoken word intro that gradually creeps up into a bombastic & chant filled hook. Don’t Hold Your Breath ends in an explosive fashion with a prolonged scream by Murray which gets drowned out in an echo of the EP’s name.
Easily one of the best releases of this year that leaves you craving more, 156/Silence have outdone themselves. With the only way being up, the band is set to be a force to be reckoned with on the stage when touring finally resumes. With songs as formidable as this, it would be a no-brainer to cop some tickets & just let all the pent up energy flux outward as the band have done with this EP.
Don’t Hold Your Breath is due for release on October 29th via Sharptone Records & you can pre-order it here. For all things music, stay tuned to Boolin Tunes.
9.5/10