“Dig until I break the shovel.“
A much beloved band within the hardcore scene, it’s been quite some time now since their last full length release, with The End now being 9 years old (yes, it really has been that long). With a single EP being released between then and now, it’s no wonder that fans have been patiently waiting, wondering when the next release is going to be. Finding Peace looks to answer that question, and with its twenty-four minute runtime, it aims to satiate the thirst for new music from the hardcore legends without overstaying it’s welcome.
Short and sweet, no frills hardcore, Finding Peace picks up where The End left off, expanding upon the sound that fans have come to know and love, whilst retaining a distinctly simplistic hardcore soundscape, and their signature DIY approach. The sound that the hardcore community has come to know and love is still here in droves, and there are no signs of that core style changing whatsoever, with the band’s pummelling, unrelenting approach being stronger now than ever. Tony Evans (previously the band’s bassist), steps up massively, showcasing a truly unrelenting ferocity with his vocals.
There are a few high points that absolutely stand out across the release, namely lead single, “Bite Down”, alongside “Let It Slide”, and “Victim 2.0”. Each of these, though distinctly different, stand out amongst the rest due to their inherent catchiness. There is no doubt that each of these tracks will see their fair share of live “moments”, whether that be synchronised two-stepping, mic grabs, or the ever-controversial crowdkilling. Desolated know what their fan base want, and are absolutely delivering here.
There are also a handful of lower points though which detracted from the overall experience, and whilst I’m sure they’d work extremely well in a live setting, they sadly detracted from the overall listening experience. Notable for this is mid-album track, “Endless Betrayal”, which employs a plethora of vocal styles throughout. Vocal features are a mainstay within the hardcore scene, and in a live setting, they absolutely add to the experience, but on this track in particular, it’s hard to feel like there was anything added to the track by their inclusion.
Whilst personally I feel that there could have been a bit more experimentation, whether that be introducing new aspects to their sound, or diversifying their sound by changing pacing here and there, it’s certainly hard to grumble at what’s being presented. For many, Finding Peace will absolutely scratch that long unreachable itch, but for those who haven’t been waiting on this and are checking it out in the grander scheme, there’s a notable lack of innovation here. With that said, what is presented is all executed extremely well, and the new line-up clearly works together well, and that’s something that’s few and far between with many bands nowadays.
Desolated have historically been, and continue to be, a bigger draw for their live presence, and whilst it’s hard to say that much will change with the release of Finding Peace, there will at the very least be new material to enhance these shows and keep things fresh.
7/10
Finding Peace is out on the 30th May via MLVLTD, with pre-orders available here.
You can also catch Desolated on their album release shows alongside Shattered Realm, Bayway, killingmesoftly (Sheffield), and Lowlife (London). Tickets are available here.