“Sunk way deep in this coffin, I keep thinking things that I shouldn’t be thinking.”
France-based tech-metal supergroup ten56. have been one of the scene’s most interesting prospects in recent memory for me. A group replete with pedigree, with current/former members of groups Betraying The Martyrs, Uneven Structure, Kadinja and more, it’s no surprise the group came out of the gate swinging as hard as they have, all standing as seasoned prog/tech veterans of the trade, so to speak.
Blending their individual brands of rhythm-centric prog with elements of the nu-metalcore movement, as well as some industrial and trap-adjacent elements, despite just how heavy ten56. are, it’s clear why the French unit appeals to so many people. Their frenzied, hyper-percussive and downright violent take on the nu-metalcore sound is a force to be reckoned with, and while their debut EP Downer Part.1 was certainly emblematic of that, its follow-up in Downer Part.2 sees the band double down on their range of influences to provide a truly complete package.
Opening track and lead single “Yenta” is certainly more of what one would have expected following on from the band’s debut, with guitars tuned so low that they essential become a percussion instrument; and fierce, biting vocals from Aaron Matts that give the band’s sound its slight swaggering edge atop the expected brutality. The track’s highlight to many will no doubt be its fake-out ending, as the track dips out into complete silence, before shortly returning with a pummeling breakdown that is sure to leave a permanent stank face on those subjected to it.
Intent on not letting up the energy in its initial run, following track “Traumadoll” further drives home the band’s violent, rap-heavy take on the nu-metalcore sound. With aggressive rap flows strewn across the track, with interspersed vocal stylings switching in and out on a whim, “Traumadoll” proves to be one of the most vocally dense tracks of the group’s catalogue. Further, its predictably bombastic instrumental work proves to add a necessary edge of pit-inducing energy, and while many of the percussive elements are relatively sparse here, allowing the vocals to truly breathe and flow throughout most of its running time, they’re still as tight and frenetic as ever when they need to be.
What follows in connecting track “RLS” came as a surprise to many upon its initial release as a single. Trading in any semblance of metallic genre tropes for a surprisingly well-crafted melodic/emo trap song provides a necessary moment to catch your breath after the considerably hefty one-two punch of Downer Part.2’s opening tracks. As stated before, too, it took me off-guard not just with its stark shift in tone, but in how well-executed it was in practice. Matts’ clean vocals here sound superb, and the track’s trap-esque instrumental is drenched in a masterful level of ambience, providing a deep sonic palette that it’s difficult not to be impressed by, given just how far out of these guys’ comfort zone “RLS” clearly is.
However, it doesn’t take long for ten56. to crack their knuckles and keep pounding the listener into the proverbial pavement, as follow-up track “Saiko” is one of the most belligerently aggressive tracks this band has crafted thus far. Weaving in and out between distorted 808s with more overtly rapped vocals, to the band’s borderline deathcore sound with ease and attitude, “Saiko” proves to be one of the EP’s utmost highlights.
After a quick interlude in “Intruder”, we enter the EP’s final phase with “Masque” and “Ender”. With the former of the two seemingly aiming for the hardcore crowd with fierce two-steppable rhythms, interspersed with oppressive chugs and some blindsiding tempo changes, the latter leans further into the low and slow ethos, with some of the most mind-bogglingly heavy moments this band have to offer. Ending Downer Part.2 in style, “Ender” switches up into wild, groove-laden triplet rhythms in its final breakdown, leaving a permanent impression on those who make it to the end of this chaotic thrillride.
With Downer Part.2, France’s ten56. further bolster the notion they are one of the most truly unique and downright fun new bands in the scene. While their hyper-percussive, industrial-angled nu-metalcore sound could be decried by some as a tad too chaotic, something about their sound circumvents any of that questioning and scratches such a specific, primal itch in the back of my brain, and I can’t help but love it.
9/10
Downer Part.2 is due for release this Friday, January 13th, and you can pre-order the record here. For more on ten56., make sure to check out my review of the group’s debut, Downer Part.1, as well as my coverage of 2022’s UK Tech-Fest, featuring the band.