Another night at the Chelsea Inn found me once again watching a band in awe of how accomplished.
BREATHE/RUST, a four piece from Bristol combining members of The Break Out, The Earth & Me, Nietzsche Trigger Finger and Crazy Arm, are tagged as hardcore on the flyer; the epithet is more than deserved, though I don’t envy whoever has to decide given the array of genres to be found across the four track self-titled debut EP.
Along with a fine hardcore pedigree, the impression that struck me most from the first listen was that of being in Cult of Luna (post-metal) territory with numerous points where the hardcore aspect can be forgotten completely until it comes rip roaring back to tear the listener a new one.
A beauty of BREATHE/RUST is the ability to not simply cover numerous genres, but combine them all in each track while simultaneously giving each moments of clarity. Flavours of Sikth (mathcore), Johnny Truant (metalcore), and, as was picked up by guitar maestro Dave Harris at the gig, Morbid Angel (death metal) are all found threaded throughout the sound.
The result is compelling: elements of the past appear as fresh and inspired; as though having gone through a process of regeneration so deeply rooted it reached into the essence of what influenced the influences, while becoming what is perhaps a genre not yet known for it speaks of something generational; a new movement in sound, a shift in sense of reality and comprehension, a meeting of that gone before with the stark reality of only knowing the World in the flesh during its current and ever worsening state of decay; something represented in a most appropriate name.
‘Breathe’ is pneumatic, pounding, relentless, intensive and intrusive, while also melodic; and all that’s prior to reaching a point of melancholic reflection that retains an agitated edge before soaring into a great striding pace.
The lyrics are pure poetry. A brutally honest prose that creates a tapestry of finding purpose so steeped in the essence of humanity it could’ve been inspired by J. G. Frazer’s study in comparative religion, The Golden Bough; the motivation for its writing being the same occurrence found taking place here: the assassin killing the assassin so as to be better for it.
‘Violent Aggressor’ is the track most deserving of the hardcore epithet; okay, so most of what BREATHE/RUST does is frenetic, but this is frenetic on top of that: searing with a heavy dose of raw attitude that brings to mind the sort of mosh pit posturing and aggression that would be more suited to a boxing weigh-in or wrestling ring.
But instead of want to fan the flames in circles and walls to the point of the bruises, blood and mayhem that many would find the most excellent of times, lyrically the anthropological theme continues to call out toxic masculinity for the god complex it is “like a diamond bullet right between the eyes” (to quote Apocalypse Now; a film influenced by The Golden Bough).
‘Remembrance’ is an exercise in cohesion from chaos, a stonking track that’s everywhere while simultaneously being in the same place; try to pin it down and it will growl in defiance before rampaging off somewhere else.
A metaphoric relationship with the lyrics is again present through the subject of reincarnation and how despite it meaning already having been here before, its newness still demands a need for guidance nonetheless.
‘New Bloom’ is a roaring lurching track that swaggers like an injured beast determined to overcome the source of its pain. The theme I’ve found isn’t so prevalent here, perhaps a good thing as ‘the theme’ is my reading alone. With lines such as “Gaze within and focus” there is certainly a spiritual/karmatic lilt in the writing, seemingly a natural trait of the writer; but what really gives these words weight in relatable, emphatic gold is their coming from a place of wholly open and honest appraisal of the self, no outside influence needed.
Here the road of addiction is travelled with many pot holes of overindulgence hit along the way; somehow the mire is seen through and negative impact realised; there begins the struggle within its grips for strength enough to be free of the compulsion.
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There’s no sign of BREATHE/RUST’s self-titled debut EP being the self-produced release that it is; the production and mix absolutely spot on. It’s available in digital format direct from the band and also in cassette form via Hollow Life Records (links below).
BREATHE/RUST:
- Rich Thomas – Vocals
- Nath Stevens – Guitar
- Neil Sutherland – Bass
- Matt Wise – Drums
EP:
- Produced by Nath Stevens at ActionTrack Studios
- Artwork by Nath Stevens
Links:
Thanks for reading 🙂
N. P. Ryan
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