EP REVIEW: Colours We Won’t Know – Drown This City

Fans of DROWN THIS CITY have been waiting eagerly for two whole years for something new to get their teeth into. Their last release, 2019’s Alpha // Survivor, was well received, and now the Australian metalcore outfit are hoping their latest EP Colours We Won’t Know will push them over the edge to international acclaim.

Proclaiming that Colours We Won’t Know is their heaviest release to date, this is certainly apparent during songs like ‘Time Won’t Remember Us’. A crossover of BURY TOMORROW and WHITECHAPEL, down-tuned, djent-like chords and chugging riffs resonate so heavily and drive the track with incredible force. This also notable in following track Beyond The Glare as Anthony Pallas’ leading percussion is complimented so well by Josh Renjen and Laurence Appleby’s gargantuan riffs. The three are not competing here, rather supporting in an eclectic mix of progressive, off-beat riffs and rapid double kicks and fills.

Such heavy instrumentation is quite rightly accompanied by nihilistic and dark lyrics. The latest member, bassist and unclean vocalist Toby Thomas, has greatly contributed to clean vocalist Alex Reade’s lyrical content for Colours We Won’t Know. She’s adding references to her own mental illness and trauma very openly.

The hardest-hitting of all lyrics come in Carbon14, Time Won’t Remember Us and Borderline Existence. Carbon14, one of Thomas‘ most notable contributions tells of struggling to find positivity during a time so bleak, while the following track can be interpreted as discussing the destruction brought by coronavirus. In turn, Reade stated that Borderline Existence was a deeply difficult song for her to pen and her emotion-fuelled vocals make that apparent. Every ounce of pain, hopelessness and fear is poured into lyrics such as “I really thought I’d amount to something”, giving physical reactions each time.

At times like this when Reade’s heart-wrenching vocals take over, it’s devesting to have her impact diminished by poor production. While every other instrument and Thomas‘ vocals are layered consistently, she is pushed to the bottom, her voice struggling to match the ferocity of her bandmates’ sounds. It crushes key moments like the first verse of EP opener Gemini – even when no other instruments are presents – and Borderline Existence’s mighty chorus, making them instantly dulled down. It’s an unforgivable shame that what could have been gargantuan moments or poignant journeys are halted throughout, making production the only element that disparages the record. Listeners of DROWN THIS CITY‘s earlier work will be aware of how powerful Reade is as a vocalist and just how anticlimactic certain sections have led to be.

Aside from the production issues, Colours We Won’t Know shows great development for the Melbourne five-piece. Thomas‘ debut with them should be celebrated as he is obviously a great asset and these six tracks are just a glimpse of his skillset. Now, all we have to do is wait for the full-length album…

Rating: 7/10

Colours We Won’t Know is out now via UNFD. 

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