“Running vermillion on the lips that spoke your name.”
There have been many renowned split releases throughout the years within the emoviolence genre. There was the classic Orchid / Jeromes Dream split back in 2000, and we had the Touché Amore / La Dispute split in 2010. The ripple effects they had across the genre from tracks like New Ideas in Mathematics can still be seen to this day. The list goes on, and there’s a new underdog release added to that list. This is where PALLA comes in, and we meet emoviolence newcomers Heaven Through Violence and Letterbombs.
The name PALLA before originates from the Elder Scrolls series, to whom many will be a familiar series and is once that has seen its references touched on across genres. The whole split EP has a frame story based around the book in the third game in the series, Morrowind. Once you realise this, there’s so much more to dig into with this split release. Combine this with the stellar imagery throughout this release from the Smithsonian Collection, you will be fully immersed in the world Heaven Through Violence and Letterbombs created with this split release. Luckily, the musical aspect is just as amazing.
Boston, Massachusetts natives Heaven Through Violence starts us off on our journey with calm rain and a soothing bass line to ease us in, before pummelling our ears with their classic emoviolence style. Definitely containing more of the emotional side of the genre, the band explores each side of the spectrum of their sound throughout their side of the split. Exploring each avenue they can find, the band feels free to take their time with each section. They can be heavy and bombastic when they want to, but they can also take it slow and send you straight in your feelings. Sprinkling in some feedback as well, they immaculately tell their story of PALLA through their musical prowess.
Heaven Through Violence also drops the magnum opus of this split in “v“. Put as bluntly as possible, “v” is an emoviolence masterpiece. Putting the emo back at the forefront, the band shows us the definition of a slow burn. The band throughout this track shows that they’re the masters of each of their respective instrument. As the band build off each other for about two minutes, the track bursts into pure emotion. You truly feel every second of this track, heartbreak seeping out of every screamed vocal. As the track slowly fades out into the sounds of rain and “This was ours, what was it now?” echoing throughout, you can’t help but feel exactly what they wanted to portray. Simply put, this is nothing short of a perfect track.
While this would’ve been an amazing standalone EP, we still have Letterbombs’s side to listen to. Unsurprisingly, their side is just as strong. While Heaven Through Violence has more of what you’d figure from an emoviolence sound, Letterbombs is more punchy and noodly. The Finland natives have a sound best described as if older The Fall of Troy decided to write emoviolence. Filled to the brim with panic chords, slick production, and even a chorus or two. Looking at a track like “x” for example, we have Letterbombs closing out the split with a minute of gorgeous cleans, airy guitars, and a heavenly piano. After being beaten with blast beats and twinkly guitar riffs throughout their side of the split, the band sends you off with an angelic ending to an impeccable B side.
To say this is a great split album would be a massive understatement. Both Heaven Through Violence and Letterbombs show what incredible musicians they are throughout the twenty-three minute run time. Neither band overstayed their welcome in any aspect, as to be expected with such talented musicians. Combining the beautiful story of PALLA from Morrowind with emoviolence was just magic waiting to happen. Building off of the original story was bound to be a difficult task for most bands. Thankfully, both bands knew the most exemplary way to tell it. This split album will be talked about for years to come, and we’re all curious on where both bands will go from here.
8/10
PALLA is out now via Fireflies Fall and can be purchased here.