Borders: Blurring Boundaries – Full Bloom
Having spent the past few years successfully blurring genre boundaries whilst successfully pushing their bludgeoning yet melodic sound, the aforementioned words are indicative of a band in unbridled sonic bloom. Distorted Sound’s last conversation with Jordan Olifent of BORDERS – just days prior to the release of 2019 debut album Purify – saw the band talisman speak of his proverbial faith in said record; it’s potential to encourage and advocate for social awareness – whilst reserving contempt for the nefarious corporate machines that attempted to brainwash the masses.
Three years later, we’re back and chatting to bassist Tom Britton, who reliably informs us the BORDERS modus vivendi remains unchanged, with the quartet absolutely hellbent on taking the heavy music world by storm – via a relentless onslaught of thought-provoking and brutally aggressive tracks. Everyone – you’re cordially invited to Bloom Season. Or as we like to call it, BORDERS version 2.0.
Built around an impetus that obliterates any notion of single-genre classification in favour of an immersive yet punishingly heavy experience, album number three is just as ambitious a collection of music. We’re talking pummelling grooves, huge riffs and lyrics that are unashamedly in-your-face. It’s a genuine no-holds barred affair with collaborations with CANE HILL’s Elijah Witt (Godless) and swaggerific rap/nu-metal juggernauts DROPOUT KINGS (NWWM) included in the grime-addled mix. Obscene exuberance and spitting bars of pure fire aside however, the latter track – and indeed the album as a whole – is working on a much deeper level. There’s zero fear or reticence in tackling some genuinely difficult topics. Tracks like I Get High, NWWM and Cut The Rope hone in on addiction, abuse, grief. With the current state of the world, did you feel a need to continue that personal relatability – to have that intimacy and thought-provoking substance flowing through the album’s content?
“Definitely. I think people are always looking for a personal connection with music and I think everyone would agree that’s needed – as the world is not in a great place right now!” Tom divulges. “The previous albums were quite high concept in comparison, but we really wanted to go deeper with this one – and get more personal lyrically. Also, J was reflecting on the past and what he was doing. NWWM was about his own personal struggles with various forms of substance abuse. The video starts and ends with the bath scene. The idea being that when the guy is underwater, you don’t quite know whether he’s alive or dead. And the idea at the end is that he’s coming out of the water and experiencing a rebirth of sorts. It’s a period where you’ve got all these troubles and strife – but at the end of the day it’s a season. And by the end, you’re blooming and coming out of it a stronger person than before. And going with the more grime and trap influence sound wise – it’s a great method in getting those stories across and we really wanted to incorporate that.”
It is arguably that very willingness to blend the introspective with the brazen that has enabled Borders to avoid becoming genre over-rans – a fate sadly experienced by many a band in the oversaturated world of modern metalcore. And as Tom explains, the decision to draw from such a disparate range of musical influences can only help a sub-genre such as theirs to flourish and evolve. “There’s a lot of metalcore bands going around and whilst that’s not a bad thing, I do think it’s very important to draw from a few different influences. I don’t think there’s anything wrong per se in re-treading old ground if you’re doing so in a really good way – but there is a saturation of same-y stuff coming out. And that’s what we’re trying to pull away from,” he states firmly.
“We’re a bunch of guys who listen to a really diverse range of music and love it. In all honesty, we were just a bit bored of doing the whole ‘oh! Here’s a riff, do you like that? Let’s put it there. Or here’s a scream to whack over the top of it’. Not that our songwriting structure is that simple – but you know what I mean [laughs]! I like doing some electronic stuff in my own time, so I was like, ‘Jordy what are you gonna do with this beat? I’ve just found a sample. This is fun – let’s put it over that guitar riff!’ I think that as long as you’re not forcing it – and you’re trying to make new things blend musically whilst thinking about the overall song as a big picture, I think it’s always a good thing to try and incorporate new elements. Even if you’re not happy with that final outcome, at least you’re treading new ground. We’re enjoying the creative process and I just think that’s so important. It was like a little sprinkle that went in on Purify, now we’re just like sod it – let’s just chuck it in all over the place!”
As our conversation nears its end, there’s just enough time to make the relevant enquiries to the affable Britton – and ask whether this could be “The One” for them. He’s quietly confident – but remains modest to the end regarding Bloom Season’s clout to promote the band to metal’s heavyweight league. “I never like to say we’ve peaked – otherwise it’s like it’s all downhill from here right? But I definitely hope it’s the sound of a new chapter for us. I’d like the fans to just enjoy it to be honest. But if anyone can connect with it – the struggles that are conveyed in those songs – and if they can identify with and it can help them in any way? That’s just the ultimate bonus for us!”
Bloom Season is out now via Arising Empire.
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