“This is no hell; this is home.”
Hailing from Brisbane, As Paradise Falls are a deathcore duo of just over a decade. To say they’ve struggled is an understatement – on the eve of a huge opportunity supporting then-giants I Killed The Prom Queen in 2015, guitarist Glen Barrie tragically passed away, which preceded the departure of all members but guitarist Danny Kenneally. He then recruited former vocalist and founding member, Ravi Sherwell, to continue the band’s legacy. APF’s continued existence is a testament to their passion for heavy music, which sees them release Madness / Medicine.
The EP kicks off with lead single “BATS”, a menacing and ferocious track which throws the listener straight into the fire. Dark ambience, eerie panic chords, and vicious highs from Sherwell contribute to a haunting atmosphere, immediately demonstrating the band’s strengths in all their glory. Another strong offering follows in the second single, “Captain Hero”. The build to the breakdown is patient and engaging, though the first breakdown itself is rather underwhelming. However, the rest of the track and the second breakdown is a real highlight of the record, with some disgusting percussion laid down; the kicks throughout are rapid and destructive, reminiscent of Lorna Shore’s Austin Archey.
The Slipknot-esque nu spoken-word vocals of “KFBR392” really drag the track down for me, and the rest of the instrumentation sadly does not pull it through. “KFBR392” and closer “TR4K 1” are noticeably worse than the other three songs that make up Madness / Medicine, lacking a direction and progression whilst not particularly offering any new ideas. These two, particularly, fall victim to the constant heaviness of the record. An EP’s short runtime typically results in a surplus of ideas and should theoretically allow for a concise and consistent product; the third these two tracks constitute seems tacked on and lacking in creativity.
“Mechanical Hannibals” is really the only non-single which lived up to my expectations. The dynamic, frenetic drumming of “Captain Hero” returns, and the track immediately shines as one which makes use of the group’s blackened soundscape. The remaining cuts fail to progress in a truly engaging manner, though the unabashed heaviness of the project will no doubt satisfy many. Lyrical quality also varies quite significantly. Whilst the EP is consistently hateful, songs like “BATS” and “Mechanical Hannibals” deal with it in a tasteful and poetic way, whereas the remaining tracks come across as cheap and bombastic.
If we’re just living monuments,
Then what’s the measure of glory?
A tale to leave your children,
Or a silent never-ending story?
Madness / Medicine is certainly at its best when it indulges in its dark atmosphere. Of course, the breakdowns are notable, but the instrumentals are already excessively heavy that in some instances (“KFBR392” and the first breakdown of “Captain Hero“) they fall comparatively flat. One thing that cannot be taken away from As Paradise Falls is how they have managed to capably construct a full sound in the studio despite only being a duo. The percussion and bass across the record is accomplished and textured, rather than feeling like an afterthought. Sherwell really shines on vocal duties, and is perhaps the main draw to this era of As Paradise Falls rather than similar contemporary nu-deathcore projects.
As Paradise Falls are undoubtedly a promising band, and one I will be keeping my eye on. For what it is, Madness / Medicine is a success, though it plays the genre a little straighter than I was hoping—quite ironic, given the general inaccessibility of it. If they can bring some more ideas to the table and play to their strengths, future releases could see a more distinctive and consistent outlook. As for Madness / Medicine – if you like Darko US and Lorna Shore, absolutely give it a shot.
Madness / Medicine will be available this Friday, September 23rd, via Eclipse Records, and you can pre-save it here.
6/10