“I can’t feel a thing.”
In the almost three years since their last release, UK unit INDEVTH have certainly been making a name for themselves across the country’s many heavy scenes. With appearances at not only UK Tech-Fest, but also on the road alongside bands like Spitting Teeth and BIND. in the last year alone, it’s been clear that INDEVTH have been building toward something big, leading us to include them as ones to watch in 2024 – and now that notion has been fulfilled, in the form of the group’s brand new EP, DROWNING.
Opening with its strongest foot forward in “NOTHING LEFT”, INDEVTH start the show in violent fashion. With ferocious barks and growls with frontman Sam Culverwell, alongside angular riffing from Patrick Standley & Adam Cox; and pummelling percussion from Harvey Mann, DROWNING opens in a blinding flurry of rage that begs to be heard over and over again. Having been on steady rotation since the single’s release back in January, “NOTHING LEFT” has proven to be one of my favourite metalcore songs of the year thus far, and it serves to set an incredibly strong tone of what is to come on DROWNING.
Following cuts “NAILS”, along with mid-EP track and lead single “LURK” continue this violent streak and keep the blistering momentum of DROWNING going with ease. The aptly named former of the two tracks contains some of the most belligerently and ignorantly heavy sections that the EP has to offer, with hefty chugs and particularly effective vocal callouts standing out across the track. “LURK” is a similarly unwieldy beast, containing one of the most memorable vocal callouts in preceding its breakdown, as Culverwell practically spits the words “I can’t feel a thing” at you through your speakers.
The EP’s closing stretch in “CLOSER”, and title track “DROWNING” bring things to a groovier pace, with the former of the two leaning into the riffier stylings that their previous material leaned into more. The track’s early, spacious breakdown further proves to be one of DROWNING’s most memorable moments, and its two-step-ready mid-track verse is sure to bring the moshers out in full force at any show. Most recent single “DROWNING” closes out INDEVTH’s latest endeavour continues the groovier pace set by “CLOSER”, with some further emphasis placed on bassist Bobby Hembrow as the guitars duck out for a moment to allow the bass space to breathe, creating a sense of undeniable stank-face-inducing heft as the full band returns to the fold.
With DROWNING, INDEVTH iterate on their obliteratingly heavy and groovy take on the modern metalcore sound in beautifully disgusting fashion. The impressive level of energy maintained throughout the EP’s short runtime is laudable, as it truly feels as not a single moment is wasted. DROWNING showcases the UK band not only hitting a new peak, but also at the start of a bold stride that is sure to take them even further across the country’s many venues and festival stages, as people catch onto INDEVTH’s palpably electric energy.
8.5/10
DROWNING will be available this Friday, March 15th, via self-release, and you can find streaming links for the band here.