EP REVIEW: Loss – MSRY

Hardcore is one of the most hotly contested genres in metal with a broad spectrum of long standing bands alongside the shining hopefuls releasing highly acclaimed releases over the past few years. MSRY made an immediate statement with their self-titled debut in 2017 which was quickly followed by the follow-up Safety First. Striking while the iron is hot the Oxford outfit are poised to unleash their latest bout of raw fury entitled Loss. The band have since evolved to a four piece, will this acquisition benefit them in their journey?

Gemini kicks off with exhilarating bursts of riffing and pulsing drum work before the raspy aggression of frontman Kial Churcher cuts through the instrumentation. The crunchy heaviness provides a great launching pad for the proceeding tracks. Still Breaks My Heart continues the buoyancy with addictive grooves and frantic pacing. The dual vocal onslaught featuring none other than Liam Cormier from CANCER BATS ups the ante as the latter stages descend into chaos summoning mosh pits aplenty. Imposter allows for melodies to trickle into the track whilst still maintaining the simmering intensity of its predecessors. As it progresses the punches get more and more devastating.

Guilt was the ideal choice for a single release, waves of adrenaline course through its veins and it showcases MSRY at their vigorous best. This will most certainly be a staple of their live performances for many years to come. Courage possesses the force of a rampaging bull as it mows down everything in it’s vicinity. The riffing refuses to provide any respite as Churcher expels screams laced with pure venom. Loss has a lot to live up to being the final track of such a high quality release but it doesn’t disappoint. The emotive tones display the diverse stylings which MSRY are capable of, the heart-wrenching screams of “Is this what loss feels like?” resonate through the remaining moments leaving the track on a particularly sombre note.

Loss strikes an emotional chord in all the right places. Whether it makes your heart sink or infuses you rage, MSRY continue to raise the bar and proudly fly the flag for British hardcore. The Oxford quartet have already achieved amazing opportunities sharing the stage with the likes of SIKTH and CANCER BATS in their short tenure and It’s now time for them to cut their teeth on the festival circuit. Following on from this release this could well be a possibility.

Rating: 8/10

Loss is out now via self-release.

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