EP REVIEW: The L.I.F.E. Project – The L.I.F.E. Project
What do you get if you cross heavy metal with rock? The answer would be THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT, a collaborative project between STONE SOUR guitarist, Josh Rand, and PARALANDA vocalist Casandra Carson. Born out of a fork in the road that Rand found himself in, he reached out to Carson and the band were born. Made up of five songs, this is only the start of THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT.
First song, Ignite, has all the makings of a true heavy metal song. With roaring guitars and a thumping bassline, the song sounds like it is about to explode into a heavy breakdown. However, Carson‘s vocals come in. They are surprisingly soft for a song alongside the heavy metal instruments, almost as if she is holding back a bit. However, there is a roughness to them that suits the song. With the unique combination of rock vocals and heavy instruments, this is an excellent opening song for their EP. It is catchy and attention-grabbing.
Purgatory is the second song, and it builds upon the foundations of the first song very nicely indeed. Carson sounds more confident on this song, and truly makes it her own. The pacing of the song is the same as the first however, the vocals are the real highlight. There is even a great guitar solo that would not sound out of place on a GUNS N’ ROSES song, albeit, a shorter version. This is a great follow-up song that makes an already great start even better.
The Nothingness has the starts that would be comfortable in more heavier territory, with frantic guitars and heavy drums. The vocals are rough and heavy, adding to the hardcore feeling of the song. Meanwhile, Worthwhile tones things down a bit and is a much more gentle number. The vocals are quiet, as are the instruments. The Nothingness and Worthwhile feel like two sides of the same coin. Despite the drastic differences between the two tracks, the change in style does not affect the pacing of the record. In fact, the more slower nature of Worthwhile feels like a welcome breather. There is some nice electronic sounds at the end of the song, which shows that the duo are not afraid of experimenting.
A World On Fire is a welcome return to the heavier side of the EP. As it is the final song, it embraces the phrase go big or go home. With heavy guitar riffs and powerhouse vocals, this song is a fantastic closer. The chorus is more rock orientated, whilst the verses come straight out of the heavy metal playbook. Usually the juxtaposition between the genres would ruin it, but THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT handle the difference with ease.
In conclusion, this is a fantastic debut EP. Despite a slightly shaky start, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT breath new life into a genre that feels a little flat sometimes and showcases the sheer amount of talent both Rand and Carson have. If you like STONE SOUR, EMPLOYED TO SERVE or EVANESCENCE, you are going to love THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT.
Rating: 8/10
The L.I.F.E. Project is set for release on July 9th via self-release.
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