“Can we rewind to a time when we were close?“
Bodyweb have established a foothold in the UK scene rather quietly. A band with only one full EP under their belt and a handful of singles ahead of the release of deadwired, they have an impressive tour repertoire as well. Touring alongside the likes of Static Dress, God Complex, and World of Pleasure, they’re a band that most in the UK would have witnessed in a live setting by now. Evidently, as a band willing to put in the miles, their initial outing on train_wreck_simuliation was a mix of hits and misses, with rough production and UKHC songwriting that didn’t quite impress on impact at times.
The nu-metal sound of the 2000s is hard to pull off, and many short-lived attempts have been made. With the EP and the following single “pull the plug” not striking right on their usual production, it was arguably their biggest barrier on both attempts. There is a certain forgiveness that can be granted, given the likes of fromjoy who pull at similar threads. Yet after this, some had written off Bodyweb. On deadwired, they have seemingly managed to show signs of being able to pull off their sound in an impressive fashion.
Bodyweb present what many might consider one of their favourite projects of the year. deadwired shows an immediate enhancement of production, while keeping that authentic sound. It gives a sense of life that often modern production rounds the edges off of. There is that “digital” sensibility to it, as if it’s mixed to be blasted out on a Walkman. It mutates through moments of hardcore, thrash blast beats and ‘core cleans on the chorus, before exiting out on an excruciating, gorgeous closing segment. There is a diversity of sound in “deadwire” that has become rare across these genres. Given how difficult this sound is to execute, Bodyweb have pencilled in a standout track here.
With “deadwire“, it now presents the case of “what about the rest” in terms of living up to the standard of a record closer. For all the expansive nature of that track, opener “No Faith” is the ruthless styling that Bodyweb have shown before, laying into a more hardcore style as brutal riffs are layered within electronic samples and synths. It’s a spin kicker and two-stepper’s dream of a track. As the bark of “Just a victim of society” is yelled out, the lyrical content does oddly seem familiar to Fit For An Autopsy‘s “Hydra“. Yet here, the deathcore tones are replaced with vicious nu-core slashings.
Much of this continues into “Shadowboxing“, with the addition of a gnarly breakdown and further leaning into the nu-metal style with the syncopation riffs and vocal barks, giving an in-your-face attitude to the track. “Sugar Coated” showcases the distorted and grungier side of Bodyweb; it is perhaps the moment where deadwired doesn’t stand out as much. Even as the breakdown begins with its impressive double-kick, relying on an already well-populated grunge-gaze sound is a route not to delve into for a band who are seemingly capable of punching out of well-trodden genre staples.
There is a certain blink-and-you-will-miss-it aspect to deadwired. While it can be taken as a compliment or criticism, a little more here would have been welcomed. Given how Bodyweb can seemingly craft soundscapes as shown on “deadwire“, leaning further into that would have given a grandiose feel to deadwired that is perhaps missing. Yet looking beyond that, and while a claim that might seem outlandish to some, this EP does cement Bodyweb as one of the most compelling acts in the UK at the moment. Hopefully, the full package will come sooner rather than later. Nonetheless, Bodyweb‘s sound shows something that could be truly impressive.
7/10
deadwired is out September 5th via Flatspot Records and can be pre-ordered here.