ALBUM REVIEW: Living Without Death’s Permission – RXPTRS
When it comes to confronting difficult emotions, inner demons and near death experiences, there is only one band that takes all of that head on without flinching, and that is Bristol’s very own RXPTRS. Their debut album Living Without Death’s Permission is ten tracks of pure energy and unfiltered emotion, tackling heavy subject matter around grief, death and so much more in a hard-hitting, brutally honest way. Few bands can say that they transcend multiple genres across the rock, metal, punk and hardcore spectrum, but RXPTRS do exactly that. Their instinctual approach to songwriting has helped the band make sense of the world around them and the experiences that they have gone through. With an emphatic energy and “grab life by the balls” attitude, Living Without Death’s Permission will stir the soul and invigorate it with a new lust for living despite the hardships you may go through.
The varied musical background of all five RXPTRS members really comes to the fore throughout the entirety of Living Without Death’s Permission. Not afraid to cover as much musical and emotional ground as possible, the Bristol quintet shift through the gears effortlessly, fuelled by gut instinct and personal experience. Whilst on the surface this is a rousing and anthemic record, just below is a deeply stirring and intensely powerful emotion that offers a sense of catharsis for all those who have suffered from mental health struggles, grief and a plethora of other emotions alongside the fact that we’ve made it through the last two years and are all bearing the scars. RXPTRS definitely have a lot to say, and they take on this responsibility with pride. The band are inspired by and thrive off of the instability of their mixed musical backgrounds as well as moving through the fertile music landscape of Bristol, bringing them all together for an eclectic mix of sounds that demonstrates the band’s excellent musicianship and songwriting skill. Considering that this is a debut, RXPTRS display a maturity and chemistry that is far beyond their years.
The music reflects a vast spectrum of events and experiences, with the thoughts and feelings attached to them. Simon Roach’s lyrical storytelling is vivid and unflinching, especially with the trilogy of songs Let Me Die How I Want, Cold Ground and The Death Rattle. The three songs are from three different perspectives of the same event, the passing of Roach’s grandmother, and how he struggled with self-destructive behaviour. This openness about grief and sadness will come as a comfort to many, as Roach has also survived a near-fatal accident which altered his perception on life. This “grab the bull by the horns” approach to life is at the core of this album, and also serves as a reminder of how fragile human life can be.
The album opens with a flourish of ALTER BRIDGE style riffing and vocals; Burning Pages sets the bar high for the rest of the album with its catchy metalcore chorus melodies and anthemic guitars. Rock Bottom (Is A Stepping Stone) carries on the high energy start and starts to throw in the RXPTRS surprises as they transition to a punchier punky style while still retaining a powerfully uplifting chorus. Collapse sees an even stronger ALTER BRIDGE influence as the band seemingly channel the thunderous riff styling of Mark Tremonti and the melancholic vocal delivery of Myles Kennedy. However, RXPTRS do it in their own unique and distinct style, incorporating British grit and a hardcore breakdown. Gutterflies is a melodic frenzy of catchy hooks and thunderous riffs that will effortlessly live in your brain rent free for eternity.
The Death Rattle opens with a tense piano swing that carries on throughout the song; the frantic energy is dizzying in the best way as the band blend a plethora of genres to create a song that sounds like the spiral of self-destruction. Cold Ground and The Frail are easily the most emotionally charged songs on the album, the former channelling the very visceral pain of loosing a loved one and the heart breaking weight of grief. The latter will touch the hearts of everyone who has suffered and struggled, it is anthem for those people, and will no doubt hit home for many more. Album closer Let Me Die How I Want is a heart-breaking song, as mental health struggles and illness begin to take a toll on the track’s protagonist. It is here where the band unleash every last ounce that they have.
Refusing to pigeon-holed and bringing a fiery and refreshing variation of sound, Living Without Death’s Permission will make you feel intensely, and maybe even shed a tear. This is an incredible statement from RXPTRS – proof of a band with an incredibly bright future ahead of them.
Rating: 9/10
Living Without Death’s Permission is set for release on June 24th via Metal Blade Records / Blacklight Media Records.
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