EP REVIEW: Closure – The Exies

After 14 years away, THE EXIES have returned with their comeback EP Closure. The EP itself contains tracks that remain true to their signature sound of infectious rock, seamlessly combined with themes of reflection, resilience and new beginnings. The combination results in songs that feel empowering for different reasons, whether it’s a push to face something head-on or to encourage deep self-reflection, the effects will remain with you long after you finish listening.

Things kick off with For What It’s Worth where that empowerment hits you straight away. It fills you with confidence as if you’re the protagonist in a 00s action film, ready to face the enemy that’s been threatening you all this time. It’s a perfect blend of moody instruments and anthemic lyrics. Going in a slightly different route is Spirits High, which opens with a moody guitar that appears to be inspired by 90s grunge. Instead of feeling confident and ready to raise hell, you now want to sit down as you brood and contemplate the different aspects of life, leaving you with a lingering sense of melancholy. Even when the full band joins in on the chorus where the song shifts into something more energetic, the lyrics about self-identity and being true to yourself hit hard. It’s a fear of being perceived fully, yet it fills you with hope in that this will make you feel better.

And those are the two main directions of this EP; either you want to lie back and have an existential crisis, or you want to jump up and face any conflict coming your way. And no matter what, each song is executed solidly and powerfully. Whether it’s the deeper side of things with s.A.D that features lyrics that might be too close to home yet would feel beautiful to sing this back in a crowd of people who feel the same, or The Hill with questioning lyrics and sounds taken from 90s and 00s rock; or it’s the energy in songs like Euphoria that has a stunning guitar riff or the concluding title track that is the epitome of the perfect rock anthem with beautiful sound effects, solid instruments, and lyrics that cover the closing of a difficult chapter in life that has you ready to start again with a clean slate.

No matter what you might be going through, this EP has something for you, and if you don’t need the self-reflection or confidence boost, then you will have spent 30 minutes listening to some solid rock tracks. It’s a win-win either way.

Rating: 8/10

Closure is out now via self-release.

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