EP REVIEW: The Air In My Lungs – Lifeblood

There’s something inescapably brilliant about bands that invest their time into sounding as raw as possible. Within the confines of hardcore as a genre; there’s nothing quite like balls to the wall ferocity. Australia’s LIFEBLOOD are that previous statement, in one volatile nutshell. Still within their infancy as a band, the Aussies new EP The Air In My Lungs is a one stop train to chaos.

While the concept of ‘it does what is says on the tin’ seems like a cheap way to describe an art-form; that’s undoubtedly what this EP provides. It’s manic, breathless, and tenacious – LIFEBLOOD come after your throat from the off.

Expand thumps the EP out of the gate; dissonant CODE ORANGE style riffs wince through while vocalist Dylan Clark bruises the airways, it’s a vicious cycle which rears its head more than once. The varying pace of Laughing Stock comes as a welcome kick in the teeth too; hopping from frenzied hardcore to deep beatdown without a moments notice.

While it’s evident that a KNOCKED LOOSE-esque pattern has been followed here, that’s never to the EP’s detriment. The quintet make their cravings to fit directly into a modern hardcore slot abundantly clear from the off – and it adds to the legitimacy of The Air In My Lungs. Especially when Counter Intuitive starts with one of the most brutal breakdown openings you could wish for, LIFEBLOOD are nigh on perfect for their market.

Those who strap themselves in for the ride here should be well aware of what they’re getting themselves in for. LIFEBLOOD are a no frills hardcore band that aren’t out to surprise you, they’re out to release their inner aggression upon you. The Air In My Lungs is 20 minutes of breakdowns, snare hits, and poise that will certainly take a lump of flesh out of you.

Rating: 7/10

The Air In My Lungs is out now via self-release.

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