“The best part of me is gone.”
Over the last few years, almost no genre has done more for the ever-growing popularity of heavy music amongst the general public than nu metalcore, and for good reason. Thanks in large part to the more simplistic songwriting and breakdowns, when compared to some other genres in the scene that would usually turn off the average listener, the flashiness of modern nu metalcore has allowed for bands such as Alpha Wolf and Dealer to appeal to the average music indulger. Unfortunately, however, with a newfound and massive amount of attention on the genre, nu metalcore has also become far more monotonous over the last few years. Thankfully, bands like Extortionist are putting their own spin on the genre. Starting in 2013, originally as a down-tempo deathcore band, their first EP and album, The Black Sheep and The Decline, resulted in amassing a sizable fanbase. Eventually, Extortionist would branch out into nu metalcore with a self-titled EP and album, Sever The Cord, before taking a brief hiatus in 2019. After returning and continuing to lean shoulder-first into nu-influence, Extortionist have once again pushed their already commanding presence even further with their newest album, Stare Into The Seething Wounds.
Stare Into The Seething Wounds sees Extortionist expanding on their dark, brooding approach to nu metalcore that dominated Devoid of Love & Light. With stronger songwriting and atmosphere, and even grunge influences, Extortionist gives the listener a more varied experience this time around.
Almost immediately, we are given a shining example of the more refined nu metal elements contained on Stare Into The Seething Wounds with the song “Aftermath of Broken Glass“. After the brief title track, we are thrust into the aforementioned composition with an opening barrage of riffs that sees the band briefly returning to the down-tempo chunkiness of their first several releases mixed with moody, Korn-adjacent nu metal riffs and ambience. While “Aftermath of Broken Glass” is an example of how the nu metal riffs and ambience enhance the band’s own take on nu metalcore, “Detriment“ takes the modern nu metalcore formula of a super fast song filled from beginning to end with relentless chugs and a massive final breakdown, whilst injecting Extortionist‘s own meticulously crafted, foreboding atmosphere. Very quickly, it becomes clear just how much interest the band had in bringing back excitement to the once venerated genre.
While Stare Into The Seething Wounds mostly focuses on refining the dark and brooding nu metalcore that Extortionist has become widely celebrated for, it’s the more grunge-infused tracks on the record that really give the album a fascinating sense of identity. “The Break I Couldn’t Mend” showcases this perfectly. Seamlessly transitioning from the previous track, “Aftermath of Broken Glass“, “The Break I Couldn’t Mend” begins almost immediately on an incredibly high note with a grungey instrumental that Nirvana could have written and vocal melodies that are awfully reminiscent of the legendary Alice In Chains’ first few albums. This newfound skill with ’90s grunge is fully explored on the late album track, “Low Roads“, which sees Extortionist stripping out almost all of their nu metal elements and instead smartly focusing on the grunge aspects of their sound, which almost no other band in the genre is capable of exhibiting. For those wondering if the band will continue melding the newfound grungey vocal melodies with dark nu metal, you are not left wanting. “Dopamine” sees both elements woven together effortlessly, leaving the listener wistful for more.
As a whole, Stare Into The Seething Wounds doesn’t have many things that the listener will take umbrage with. However, it would have been nice if the grunge-inspired songs on the album weren’t structured too similarly to one another, as most of these tracks, except “Low Roads“, usually start with a good amount of grunge elements for the most part before switching briefly back into nu metalcore with a breakdown, and then circling back with grunge to round off the song. While this structure doesn’t overly draw things out, the lack of repetition would have made those songs feel even more massive.
Stare Into The Seething Wounds is a huge step forward for Extortionist, showing off just how far the band has come in the two short years since their last record, Devoid of Love & Light. Furthermore, Stare Into The Seething Wounds also proves that, while nu metalcore has become somewhat dull as a genre in recent years, there are still acts capable of writing compelling records that can make this niche feel refreshing.
9/10
Stare Into The Seething Wounds is out this Friday, October 10th, via Unique Leader Records, and you can preorder it here.