EP REVIEW: Inner Demons – From Ruins

Northern Irish quintet FROM RUINS might have only formed this year, but they are already making a name for themselves. They released their debut single Running Away in July, and have now released their new EP Inner Demons. Most of all they are determined to not just stick to one type of metal, which is shown on this three-track EP. 

Hurt Me is the first song and it starts off with a thundering guitar riff before exploding into a melodic sung verse. In fact, the track switches up the usual metal cliché of having the verses screamed and the choruses sung, with the band going instead for some truly impressive death growls in the chorus. There are even some synths mixed in, showing that FROM RUINS aren’t afraid to step out of the metal genre.

Damnation is more in keeping with the usual heavy metal formula, but the band still make it their own. The vocals focus on death growls and the music borrows heavily from thrash metal, with the production ensuring that the instruments do not overwhelm the vocals. The frantic guitar riffs continue into the closing song Running Away, but here the vocals are more along the lines of a post-hardcore track, with throaty screams and rock singalong choruses. It’s another clever way for the band to subvert expectations through their music, and it is clear that they are having a fun time throughout the EP, and that passion is evident in the end result.

Of course, the EP isn’t perfect. The ten-minute runtime flies by, and does leave a lot more to be desired. It’s as if we’ve only just scratched the surface of what FROM RUINS are capable of. Then again, that’s the entire point. It is still early days for the band, and they have only offered us a small taste of what’s to come. On the other hand, it is clear that the band have a bright future ahead of them. Whilst the EP is a fast-paced one, each song has enough time to make its mark upon the listener.

Overall, Inner Demons is a fantastic EP by an exciting new band in the heavy metal scene. Throughout the three songs, FROM RUINS showcase their clear passion for music. Each of the three songs has an individual sound and together they constitute an extremely strong start for a band looking to redefine the heavy metal rulebook.

Rating: 8/10

Inner Demons is out now via self-release.

Like FROM RUINS on Facebook.