EP REVIEW: In Bloom – Waste

Midwest US moshpit crew WASTE are back with their brand new EP – though is it an EP if there are seven tracks? – In Bloom, out now via Seek & Strike. The lads are picking up some steam via your usual online outlets, but are they worthy of the hype?  

Deathcore as a genre is certainly a mixed bag. Either you get catapulted to stardom a la LORNA SHORE or you get lost in the crowd of the rinse and repeat rejects. How you feel about In Bloom will most likely be based on what you want from a band like this. Let’s dive into the EP itself and circle back. 

It starts with the ominous Be Welcome. It’s an eerie welcome that’s for sure, but it’s an atmospheric intro that’ll fit perfectly as a show starter. It builds and builds until it eventually bleeds into Wither which erupts with unfathomable aggression. We’re hit early with a classic deathcore “blegh” which is always a treat, and the effects on the guitars are a sensory overload in the best way before they venture more into the djent style of playing. It’s got shades of EMMURE in its delivery and the ending breakdown is straight-up nasty – a promising start.  

Dying Sun doesn’t waste any time picking up the pieces that Wither left in its wake. It’s fast-paced almost the whole way through until the slow down for the breakdown derails its urgency. The vocals are your standard deathcore mix of forced yelling and low-end growls. While they fit the genre, they don’t stand out from the crowd.

At Worthless, things start to get a little ‘heard it all before’. At least the following Serpents Tongue has an interesting intro. Its trippy guitars make the track stand out more from the rest of the pack, but it’s more of the same otherwise. You’re hit with another final third breakdown which is straight out of the deathcore playbook, though thankfully the vocals are filled with enough venom to make the track title incredibly fitting.  

In Delore shows signs of variation, with an intro that mirrors that of the EP’s introduction. The slower and heftier guitars on this one give the track an extra slice of filth, especially when the breakdown kicks in and opens the gates of hell. Along with Wither, this is an EP highlight. The drums are consistently tight throughout and help to give everything a little extra bounce, and there are more than enough two-stepping moments on In Bloom to keep the hardcore crowd happy in the pit.  

This EP and this band in general show a lot of promise. Unfortunately, In Bloom never takes a form of its own and is instead too busy taking cues from those who came before them. If you’re a deathcore fan in general you will find something on here that you’ll enjoy in the moment, but whether there is enough here for multiple listens will depend on whether you’re looking for something deeper or just want some no-nonsense brutality thrown in your general direction. It’ll be interesting to see where the band go from here.  

Rating: 7/10

In Bloom is out now via Seek & Strike.

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