EP REVIEW: Without Reason – Texas in July

It can be heartbreaking when a band decides to call it quits, so fans of TEXAS IN JULY must be truly ecstatic to hear that they have reformed, and that they’re releasing their first new music in nine years in the form of their new EP Without Reason. The nostalgic metalcore group haven’t just been sat around all that time though; frontman J.T. Cavey picked up the mic for ERRA and guitarist Chris Davis joined iconic THE GHOST INSIDE. Those are some pretty big names there, and to keep those projects going alongside this new TEXAS IN JULY release shows a great deal of passion.

The first track on the EP is its lead singe False Divinity, and you can tell straight off the bat that the band are keeping to those classic metalcore vibes. A nice drop followed by a rolling riff, the unclean vocals from Cavey sound effortless and well-rounded, and there’s a nice mix of melodic screams for the chorus that make for a nice transition into many a groovy rhythm. There’s nothing more impactful than a complete break in a song followed by a swift breakdown. It tricks you into a false sense of security before dropping you into the action. TEXAS IN JULY haven’t strayed too far from their original sound, which fans are sure to love; Without Reason has a current edge to it whilst still keeping its metalcore roots.

Another single, Put To Death, might have you wondering how drummer Adam Gray doesn’t just collapse. The amount of power that goes into some of the drum rhythms in this song is truly admirable. The blast beats could easily be mistaken for gunfire, and this immense backing is added to with some punchy riffs that will set any crowd off. Topped off with some more strong vocals, this track doesn’t lack much. Digital Hellscape which follows features such a cool pre-chorus in the first verse, slapping of the guitars and intermittent beats that make you want to throw yourself around, as well as such a groovy section that definitely stands out on the EP.

Overall, TEXAS IN JULY have played a blinder with this comeback EP. It would be incredibly surprising if this doesn’t get old and new fans hyped up. This release is really exciting for the metalcore scene, bridging the gap between the classic traits and some new takes on the genre.

Rating: 9/10

Without Reason is set for release on November 17th via Equal Vision Records.

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