EP REVIEW: Lost & Searching – The Wildfires Projekt
THE WILDFIRES PROJEKT don’t limit themselves to one genre. The brainchild of Santa Carla based musician Johnny Zirkel draws influences from hip-hop, alternative rock and pop to create an outlet for a generation that has been shaped by mental health struggles. With lyrics which speak of heartfelt honesty, Lost & Searching is their third EP, one which follows on from From Which We Came and Through Fear And Fighting.
The EP’s opening song, Paradise, contains the first of a couple of features on the record, this one from SAYWECANFLY. The track itself leans more into the alternative pop side of things at first, however by the pre-chorus it morphs into more of a rock sound. The transition is so smooth that it is practically unnoticeable, and as the song progresses the pop and rock elements culminate into a perfect final chorus for an opener that breathes fresh air into both worlds.
Serotonin follows and takes the form of an upbeat rock song that leans heavily on the guitars. However, by the second chorus it is easy to mistake it for a hip-hop song. This continues on the next track Headlights too. Both songs are nice enough and continue to build upon the sounds previously established, which is a good thing because it not only makes the pacing of the songs flow nicely, but also that of the overall EP.
Living The Life features Wade Walters of post-hardcore band SECRETS and leans fully into the rock genre. The song has everything; guitar riffs, breakdowns, and the bridge even has elements of metal as it is screamed. Again, the song’s pacing is nice and even, and there is even a nice element of heavy metal at the very end with a brief instrumental breakdown. After that, A Devil With Angel Wings provides a stark contrast to Living The Life with an upbeat electronic pop song. Even this doesn’t affect the pacing of the EP at all, but the only downside is that it has a very short runtime. This leaves the song feeling a little underdeveloped. On the other hand, for a song with such a short run time, it does its job well.
In The Calm is the last song on the EP. It is another anomaly as it mixes hip-hop with rock. It provides an explosive end to the record, and showcases the journey that the audience have been on. The production on this song is astounding as it trips into death metal, with guttural vocals during the last chorus. This song is a highlight on the EP and a complete surprise.
Overall, Lost & Searching is a stand-out release for THE WILDFIRES PROJEKT. This EP might only be six songs long, but not a minute is wasted. It is expertly written and produced, creating a well-crafted body of work. Despite one song not really living up to its potential, it is still a fantastic listen. This EP is a perfect introduction if you don’t know THE WILDFIRES PROJEKT, and the band are definitely becoming a name to watch.
Rating: 8/10
Lost & Searching is set for release on February 11th via self-release.
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