The Pitch: Bronx, New York hardcore band Duane Barry unveil a hard-hitting new EP with some melodic flourishes for fans of Every Time I Die, Norma Jean, and The Fall Of Troy.
What I Like: For just 3 songs, Duane Barry are really flexing their stylistic boundaries on Emergent Themes. The EP plays out like an advertisement of current abilities. Opening track "Rabblerouser" is my personal favorite, taking a very Every Time I Die approach to riffs. A little hardcore, a little rock and roll; it's a great little banger with plenty of hooks that clearly demonstrates the heavier side of the band. "Filthy Casual" seems to kick off in much the same way, but takes a sudden detour into clean vocals that shift the aesthetic into a more metalcore space. These more melodic elements crop up again on "Family Gimp," which alongside the the hammer-on, pull-off heavy guitars left me reminiscing about the likes of The Fall Of Troy.
Critiques: "Rabblerouser" really sets the bar high. While the other two songs are more dynamic, they don't engage me with the same raw energy. If this as a showcase of possible directions, I'm much more interested in the fast and hard approach.
The Verdict: Emergent Themes serves as a solid cross-section of possibilities for Duane Barry. While my overall preference is for the band to focus on the more aggro side of things, their diverse capabilities should serve them well as they tighten up the songwriting. Name Your Price for the EP right now below.
Flight's Fav's: Rabblerouser
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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