“Take my chances, it’s killing me inside.”
Given the amount of shows that Demeanour have been racking up over the past twelve months, performing alongside the likes of Smother, Not Without Punishment, and Haywire, it had always been a curious wonder when their material would make it to the studio. For those who have never seen Demeanour live, it would go a long way into discovering truly why they have amassed such underground popularity. The unveiling of Demeanour began with their debut single last week in “Twinblade”, and now continues with the full release of their debut EP, My Own Fate.
The opening one-two blow of “INTRODUCING” and “THE LORD BELOW” has Demeanour show their prowess immediately. Vocalist Izabel Lavin, known primarily for their work in Rozemary, shows a fierce vocal performance from the outset. Effortlessly shifting between barks and harsh, snarled screams, My Own Fate possesses a cutting edge and impressive brute force. These are matched with crunching instrumentals, which sit alongside the vocals in the mix, providing it with a layered heaviness, especially when it fully kicks into gear on the breakdown, which is absolutely menacing. This has no doubt been the cause of flying limbs many a time at their live shows.
There are two elements to My Own Fate which lead to it being one of the more interesting and unique listens of the year. Whilst on the surface, it does appear to be your standard 16 minute “core” record, there’s plenty packed in to pique your interest. There are moments on “SCYTHER” which lean more into the beatdown hardcore sound, making you want to lob a medium-to-large sized object at someone. Then on the closing track, “WITNESS”, it leans much more into metalcore, with techy riffs thrown in for good measure. Despite there being a handful of two-steppable moments sprinkled throughout, it’s evident that for Deameanour, each breakdown is intended to be as heavy as possible, and they clearly had a grand time making this happen.
The production here also feels remarkably fresh, clearly drawing from the 8-bit and video-game nostalgia of the 00s and 90s. It gives a new twist on the DIY sound, setting Demeanour apart from their peers. That’s not to say that all of the band’s quirks are positive though. Take the interlude track “THE APPROACH” which leans heavily into dungeon synth for example; a far cry from something we’d expect to or want to hear from a project like this.
All of this to say, whether it’s your cup of tea or not, it’s impossible to deny that the twists which Demeanour have packed into this debut release don’t give it it’s own distinctive style in what is quickly becoming a diluted scene.
There’s a lot to discover on My Own Fate, especially when you take the time to scratch beneath the surface further and explore the soundscapes and lyrical content. That’s not to say that there’s not plenty to enjoy on the surface either, there certainly is, particularly if you’re looking for a simple, yet fun release. Each track is packed with moments which you can picture being shouted back in a live setting, accompanied by ferocious breakdowns certain to cause a few injuries. A noteworthy debut, Demeanour have shown their talents here, and there’s no doubt that given a bit more time, they’ll grow into something truly special.
7.5/10
My Own Fate is out tomorrow July 25th, via dawnbreaker.