EP REVIEW: Masquerading Self – Profiler

British nu-metal upstarts PROFILER are beginning to cause a stir. Born out of the creative mind of Bristol’s Mike Evans, the four piece have gained quite a bit of traction over the past twelve months, especially since the release of debut record A Digital Nowhere in the February of last year. Having supported bands like WHITECHAPEL, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE and VENDED, the band are excitedly preparing for their first ever headline show at London’s Black Heart on December 10th, and they’re coming armed with new EP Masquerading Self, self-released on Friday, December 4th.

As is the current style, four of the six tracks were released prior to the official date, and they just so happen to be the first four on the EP, so by now many will be accustomed to them. Illusion opens with a LIMP BIZKIT inspired bassline followed by a more tech-inspired guitar tone that brings the track more in line with nu-metalcore, along with an electronic edge, while the short and punchy Dope continues that trend into the more ‘core’ related subgenres, with certain bits reminiscent of ARCHITECTS at their All Gods… peak. Waste is a full on love letter to LINKIN PARK, right down to the turntable scratches and melodic middle eight, with Luciferian bringing the BIZKIT swagger back in spades, the delayed guitar lick could easily be one of Wes Borland‘s and boasting a seismic chorus ready for rooms to sing in unison.

Of the two tracks not released up until now, Upgrade clocks in at just under two-and-a-half minutes and ensures no second is wasted; the stomp in the guitars is immense and Evans shows great range to go from his screams to a more sinister, softly-spoken interlude before the song kicks right back into chaos and fury. Meanwhile, closing track 888 is bouncy and groove laden, going back to the LINKIN PARK well for a bit more inspiration with its sonorous chorus, but then takes a dramatic turn in the middle as everything slows down to a metalcore-inspired breakdown with a more digitally inspired guitar riff in the middle; it then becomes something a bit more expansive and ambient at the end, fading out in a manner that nobody would have expected at its beginning.

PROFILER have intended on Masquerading Self being a more deliberate departure from their sound on debut album A Digital Nowhere, and while it’s not so far removed that they’ve developed a completely different sound, you can be sure to expect a larger step away on their next release. PROFILER are coming into their own; these are brave and exciting times.

Rating: 7/10

Masquerading Self is out now via self-release.

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