EP REVIEW: The Color Of Bone – Violent Life Violent Death
“The Color Of Bone is representative of humanity being made of all the same materials in the end.” That’s how North Carolina-based metallic hardcore outfit VIOLENT LIFE VIOLENT DEATH describe the title of their fourth EP. With this focus, there are no prizes for guessing that it makes for a pretty bleak listen. The lyrics on the record are “largely inspired by the psychological depths of being in quarantine and the state of the world around [the band] at the time.” Not only that, the music behind them also strongly reflects the chaos and desolation which have defined 2020 for so many.
Long-time fans of the band will no doubt have been looking to this release with anticipation. VIOLENT LIFE VIOLENT DEATH have already released three crushing, abrasive EPs since their formation in 2016. With every release, they seem to get more punishing, nastier and darker. This continues on The Color Of Bone, with the result drawing strong comparisons to the early 00s metallic hardcore of bands like ZAO, NORMA JEAN and CONVERGE.
Although The Color Of Bone comprises just five tracks, it feels like it has enough ideas for nearly double that. Much like the artists they clearly take inspiration from, the band flit from section to section at a nausea-inducing rate. All the songs are between three and four minutes long, but every one goes to so many places. While it’s by no means the most chaotic metallic hardcore record of all time, it is quite bewildering at first. As a result, this EP definitely requires multiple listens to get a good sense of what’s going on.
One thing that does immediately stand out on The Color Of Bone is the performance of vocalist Scott Cowan. Throughout the record, Cowan’s vocals are deeply abrasive and intense, and particularly reminiscent of ZAO’s Dan Weyandt. Unlike many of his contemporaries though, he is often quite easy to understand, with his delivery laying bare the album’s bleak themes. He also provides a few hooks, which prove essential on such a chaotic listen. Prime examples include his screams of “grave walk with me” on the opening track, and “I wish you were dead with me” on the second. Lines like these give listeners something to latch onto amid the mayhem, especially at first. The record also sees Cowan vary up his style from time to time. All five tracks feature moments of low clean vocals which add a dark, ominous quality.
As well as Cowan, VIOLENT LIFE VIOLENT DEATH‘s drummer David Holquin definitely deserves a shout out. He does an excellent job of holding things together as the band tear through tempo changes and odd-time sections. He also keeps things incredibly varied and interesting amid the band’s constant barrage. From blistering double kicks on songs like Dead With Me and Roseblade, to crushing half-time sections pretty much everywhere, Holquin shows he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. On Grave Walk and the title track, he nails some killer blast beats. Elsewhere, on fourth track Linger he lays down some impressive rolling tom-led parts. He also proves more than capable of handling the driving D-beat sections common to pretty much every metallic hardcore release ever.
The Color Of Bone is of a consistent standard throughout, but third track Roseblade is definitely a highlight. Opening at a breakneck, thrash-tinged pace, it soon veers into more crushing, stompier sections. The track’s final breakdown is particularly punishing, and it’s no surprise the band chose it as their lead single. Next track Linger is similarly strong. While still a continuation of what’s come before, it may well be the heaviest track of the five. The use of gang vocals on the song’s choruses hits especially hard, even amid the band’s relentless assault.
At this point, it feels like VIOLENT LIFE VIOLENT DEATH are definitely ready to put out a full-length. If they do, they may require a little more variation than they manage on The Color Of Bone. As with their previous EPs, it’s a near-constant onslaught of pummelling hardcore. It works well here, but it would be a shame if they didn’t push themselves a little more going forward. Listeners shouldn’t worry too much though. This is clearly a band with such a deep love for and knowledge of metallic hardcore that whatever they decide to do next is sure to be of a high standard.
Rating: 8/10
The Color Of Bone is out now via Innerstrength Records.
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