Chock-full of bass drops, tuned-down guitars and heavy-duty growls, No Escape, No Morale isn’t for the faint of heart. The Infantry, a five-piece from Mansfield, Ohio, didn’t pull any punches with its first EP. (Imagine a slow-paced mix between metalcore and hardcore and you’re about on target.) Although a lot of the EP suffers from too much chugging and growling (this is not to criticize the talent and excellence of the vocals), there are many surprises nestled in-between. “Brotherhood,” for instance, features crisp, clean vocals which include excellent harmony, and “Points” is a cover of Linkin Park’s “Points of Authority,” complete with nu-metal rapping. “Empty Tomb” features cryptic whispering that gives off a slightly creepy tone. Finally, differing styles of screams, from pig squeals to hardcore-style screams, are sprinkled throughout the EP, although growling is the norm.
Features
Droning On
The world came to a halt in 2020, but London-based Drones trudged on, giving a voice to the hurt that circulates with (or without) a pandemic: "You shouldn’t underestimate the power of writing things down or literally speaking them out loud, which I’m learning. I’m glad I made these songs, no matter how personal they are."
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Changing Focus
When Weathered wrote their debut album, 'Stranger Here,' it was an introspective take on life as they knew it. The appropriate way to follow it up? Turn the mirror around and tell the stories of those around you.
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Overflowing with Wrath
Dempsey Mills is the brains behind Vials of Wrath, an atmospheric solo project rooted in Nordic inspiration, historic genre, and a dichotomy of peace and tension that underlies the heaviness of the music. Just don't call it unblack.
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The Space for Rebirth
On Age of the Abstract's new EP, 'Rebirth,' the duo explores what a new sound looks like apart from the day-job in Canidria. Here, contributing writer Andrew Voigt talks with Julio Arias about influence, vision, and how writing in the wake of his father's death propelled the band forward.
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