Anything could happen here. Metallic hardcore, late 90s metal and death metal influences form the stylistic backbone of this album. Reading the blurb, it seems to claim to be everything, and above all bigger and better than the Australians’ 2021 EP “Cast You Out”. Thematically it seems to be about everything too, but the problems of the world and disdain for the self in there – the usual stuff, then.
It’s always better in these cases to ignore the hype and get into the music. This is certainly the case here. What I heard on the opener “Grey Eye” was what I hear at my local metal outlet – banging modern metalcore, straight line, melodic and heavy. I like it. The melody helps the hard and fast “Shrine of Wire”. Nicolas Cage Fighter would be one helluva good live band, I reckon. It may be dark but its aim is laser sharp and it flows. Little breaks here and there maintain the interest and add new levels of darkness. On we rampage through “Coughing Nails”. There’s a nice bit of technical riffery. None of it stops our vocalist ploughing forward, and the whole thing becoming a melo thrash romp. Oz hardcore this may be, but I feel elements of New York hardcore in this.
“Static Abyss” takes us forward solidly and darkly. I feel the vocalist’s anger. It’s measured fury, full of menace and with danger lurking at every turn. Now to the title song. Whispered growls give way to an energetic drum beat and it’s another metalcore attack. Hardcore, death metal, a solid riff and crumbling walls are matched by the echoed rantings of the vocalist and his mates. From one adrenaline fix we go to another in “Weeping Sores”. Instrumental fury is whipped up. The tempo changes but it remains all about assault and shock tactics. “Compound and Fracture” is described as the “fuck you” song. It is that but it’s not alone. It’s also an energetic, mobile hardcore blast. It’s anger release in one cracking two-minute song. The heavy tomes of anger are on a roll now. Bang your head to the chunking, crushing “Foundation”. A menacing strain runs through the back of this weighty ball of solid fury. Punch that wall. “Heretic’s Vow”, a thunderous bouncing bomb of a death metal variety, follows. Ferocity rules. After three or so minutes of battering, it tones down, the clouds thicken and the song ends in more thunderous darkness. The album finishes with the bouncy “A Great Ruinous Deed”. It’s deep and dark, but as a song it’s hypnotising as many are here. A clever break quietens things but only for a moment and it acts as the prelude to a final blast of adrenaline and dark shades.
There’s no crap here. This is solid, thrusting, dark hardcore with bags of energy and a cynical and angry edge. What makes it better is that it has the feel of a live performance and structures to encourage audience participation. “The Bones that Grew from Pain” is fluid with clever breaks and tempo changes. Nicolas Cage Fighter keep us spellbound with their musicianship. However dark the theme, this is fun to listen to and feel part of.
(9/10 Andrew Doherty)
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