ALBUM REVIEW: A Eulogy For Those Still Here – Counterparts

To dub a band or album ‘genre-defining’ is often seen as the highest praise that can be bestowed. For COUNTERPARTS, the fact that they are so intrinsically linked with the term ‘metalcore’ can feel like both a blessing and a curse, but genre-defining they are, having arguably perfected their invigorating take on melodic hardcore two albums ago. On their seventh album, A Eulogy For Those Still Here, the band pick up were they left off with 2019’s Nothing Left To Love.

Fusing heavy aggression with melodious angst is COUNTERPARTS’ modus operandi and the band stick to that mission here. Across 11 tracks, thunderous breakdowns give way to soaring guitar leads that never fall to tug on the heartstrings with their rising and falling motifs. The driving force behind these riffs is the duo of Alex Re and Jesse Doreen, two legacy members who have now officially rejoined the band for Eulogy. The drumming is handled by Kyle Brownlee, who forms a dynamic rhythm section with bassist Tyler Williams. It’s fast, frantic, and thrilling stuff, and, yes, there are plenty of blastbeats thrown in for good measure. 

Brendan Murphy’s blistering roar is back in full force, but more clean vocals are employed across the record as well. These are still used sparingly, but apart from on single Bound To The Burn, they are mostly unrewarding. Every clean line is draped in reverb and layered to point of sounding muddy. Given how iconic Murphy’s vocal lines are, we’re sure many fans would like to be able to hear his singing voice more clearly. 

Consistency can be a double-edged sword, and COUNTERPARTS are inarguably one of the most consistent bands in hardcore. Having produced seven excellent albums and toured around the globe tirelessly, the Canadian five-piece have more than earned their place as one of the top bands in the scene. Perhaps this goodwill has made the band a little risk averse, as while Eulogy is effortlessly listenable, and at times moving, it does little to progress their sound in any meaningful way.

While we’re not suggesting that COUNTERPARTS should produce a techno album, hearing musicians of this calibre playing with some new sounds wouldn’t go amiss. When bands play with themes as dramatic and heartrending as COUNTERPARTS do, the risk of fatigue is real. The band play with softer sounds on Skin Beneath A Scar, but the track is too sombre to feel like anything more than an interlude. It’s a good thing then, that the highlights are so high. The aforementioned Bound To The Burn is one of the band’s most accessible tracks to date, with its uplifting sing-alongs moving seamlessly into some downright nasty breakdowns. The title track is another standout, as Murphy explores the paralysing fear of losing someone (or something) that you love. 

Lyrics like “Grieving though you haven’t left my side” exemplify why Murphy’s vulnerable songwriting has resonated with fans around the world. There’s poetry in its honesty. It’s taken as a given that bands in this genre bear their souls for the sake of their art, but never does introspection feel as sincere as with Murphy’s lyrics. The vocalist even admits that some of the lyrics on the album are for his sick cat, Kuma, who sadly passed away after the recording of Eulogy. If this doesn’t immediately endear you to COUNTERPARTS’ ever-earnest vocalist, nothing will.

While COUNTERPARTS’ sonic ambitions are limited, you can’t help but be swept up in the chaos that they have become so adept at ordering. R.I.P. Kuma and rock on COUNTERPARTS.

Rating:  8/10

A Eulogy For Those Still Here is set for release on October 7th via Pure Noise Records.

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