EP REVIEW: Heaven Let Them Die – Counterparts
What’s better than new COUNTERPARTS tracks? New, surprise tracks that no one knew were dropping. The band have always been known for their slightly more melodic take on the metalcore/hardcore blend, with previous full-length A Eulogy For Those Still Here a prime example of how emotional the band can get, including a song dedicated to Kuma, frontman Brendan Murphy‘s late cat.
Despite this, the Canadian quartet have definitely taken things much heavier on these seventeen minutes of heaven titled Heaven Let Them Die, and with just six tracks to choose from, it’s hard to pick a highlight. There’s no warmup as they explode into A Martyr Left Alive, which sets the tone for vocalist Brendan Murphy’s visceral range and the breakdown galore that ensues throughout the EP.
To Hear Of War’s downtune moments of dread before getting into groovy, two-stepping territory catch you off guard and make you question how much influence Murphy’s other group END had on this record, as it’s at that level of chunk. No Lamb Was Lost is simple yet effective, and all tracks still have that moment of reflection, slowed down and melodic enough before unleashing more fury, plus having a chorus that is going to be perfect to scream at the top of your lungs at their next live show.
Praise No Artery Intact closes off the short but savage onslaught with a speedier, thrashing guitar riff but it isn’t long before you’re met with more breakdowns to finish you off. The band themselves described this release as, “honest, harsh and without restraint” and we couldn’t agree more, as from beginning to end, there is absolutely no holding back.
The production is crisp and every little element that adds tinges of atmosphere or raw emotion is captured to add more eccentricity to what can often be quite a generic genre. If this is COUNTERPARTS, at their most genuine form, then feel free to spring more tracks on the world as soon as possible as this slaps far too hard.
Rating: 9/10
Heaven Let Them Die is out now via Pure Noise Records.
Like COUNTERPARTS on Facebook.