“Let me know your unbroken affection.“
Both fallfiftyfeet and Wounded Touch have both crafted the sound of 00s metalcore and mathcore in their own ways, fallfiftyfeet leaning on the mathier side like SeeYouSpaceCowboy have, with Wounded Touch embracing the heavier side that at times is reminiscent of Norma Jean. These two similar but different worlds come together on a good old fashioned split EP, in this case titled Traumatic Entanglement. An EP that show cases each band’s strengths in a strong fashion and creates further anticipation for wider projects from both of them.
An intent-filled bass strums away as barked vocals bring “This Could Be Your Last Exit” to life, the rough around the edges production here makes it immediately distinguishable, fully embracing the low MP3 bit-rate-esque sound of the 00s. Anguished come strained clean vocals command the chorus, contrast with the harsh vocals in a way that many bands such as Ateryu and Oceana perfected many years ago. The trading of guitars switching between pitched math-y moments and hardcore styled brutal riffs, making for a sound that dances around on the ear.
Second track from fallfiftyfeet in the form of “You Think You’re (John Fucking Denver)” is a song of two halves. It’s opening takes a heavier and pacier note, dropping a panic chord lead breakdown mid-way, that would split open a room. Before diving into Midwest emo stylings, contemplative cleans singing away while the drum grooves dance on an extended fill that along with the vocals give a certain heart to the closing moments.
Any drifting thoughts that may have began to set in during that are soon burst by the ferocity that Wounded Touch deliver joust into the ear on “Submitted for (Dis)Approval“. A dense track that can only be perceived as wanting to watch a live crowd go absolutely fucking mental to, the guitars going fully Norma Jean in the most violent fashion in a way that the likes of Better Lovers have also done.
“In Mouths Wielding Silence” gives Wounded Touch‘s sound more room to breath, big guitar grooves fill the track, while continuing to hammer away in every other aspect. There is a dark grittiness to their sound too that bleeds through in the production, a sound akin to eating on gravel. This, like the production on the opening half of the split, does give a rawness and authenticity to Traumatic Entanglement that is lost in many production methods these days.
While it seems like they have been few and far between in 2024, Traumatic Entanglement shows the wonder of a split EP. With both their dynamic sounds showing a side to metalcore and mathcore that is slowly returning to its roots, for the better, with Matt Marquez nailing the production that gives their 00s-style life, making Traumatic Entanglement deeply impressive.
7.5/10
Traumatic Entanglement is out August 23rd, 2024 via Smartpunk Records.