Review by Kayla Hamilton (@kaylazomboid)

Earlier this year, NOISE ‘N’ VISUALS were introduced to a young act from Singapore called Eden Eyes through an incident that happened at one of their shows. As it was no fault of the band, we wanted to rally behind and support them. Little did we know at the time just what this quartet had up their sleeve.

Reasonably new in the scene but already making their mark, at the end of last month Eden Eyes dropped their debut EP Half A Life and going off what I had already heard from previous releases- I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into this one. 

The way the opening lyrics “My heart is a fucking wasteland” rip through your ears, sets an almost Parkway Driveesque feel to this. Descending into something entirely more vicious, ‘Wasteland’ is the perfect opener to this EP. The soundscape is anthemic, with the guitars dabbling with that progressive modern metalcore sound. The creepy interlude before plunging the breakdown barely prepares you for the monster gutturals that command the further descent into absolute gobsmacking heaviness. This track sets up the vibe beautifully.

‘Interloper II’ continues the intricate guitar work, that DJent sounding influence ever present. Despite there being many modern stylings, the actual song structure really resembles a classic metalcore formula. I’m talking about gang vocals. Interludes. Little guitar moments. Vocally too, this track is where we get that nasty bleugh but there is so much more going on. There is a deathcore influence, but there is more dynamic to the harsh vocals. It’s intriguing and it helps Eden Eyes really stand out in a scene that is starting to really follow a cookie-cutter sound.

The main reason for that though is the primal energy that drenches the vocals and in ‘Sisyphean’, it’s even more evident. There is a rawness to them that commands attention. This song though, the drummer really works over time. I’m already a fan of the intricate fills and delicate cymbal hits from the previous tracks, but in this tune he really sets the pace and fills out the track. Again, we are hit with another gigantic breakdown. The kind of breakdown you feel at your very core. 

From the moment I heard ‘Gangrene’ I knew that I was going to be a fan of this band. That opening growl is soul punching. It is a haunting track that gives me almost Alpha Wolf energy but in an entirely unique way. The bass is beefy, the guitars are spooky and there are just so many layers of sound without it being too clunky. Many bands try to jam so many effects and intricacies to fill up the space, but it can often just be an overstimulating mess- but Eden Eyes have nailed this skill. Pulling back the complexity at the right moment, to give us just a simple breakdown to round off the track- it’s not reinventing the wheel, but it makes for such a smooth ride.

As we approach the final two acts, we have a chance to breathe with ‘The Final Act of Live’. Let’s just say it bluntly: it’s a pretty interlude. Atmospheric soundscape with stripped back guitars, no vocals except a spoken word sample…the lead into the finale is exceptional. As the distortion kicks back in, you can feel the vibrations take over your senses, taking us into ‘Half A Life’.

Similar to what I said about earlier, there is a moment of rawness in the vocals and for the verses, they are given a front and centre moment that highlights an almost vulnerability. The black metal influence is strong in this one, before kicking into a melodic chorus. The final minute takes us out with a headbang inducing riff, fading out with the rest of the band and rounding off into a tight little package.

Ultimately, Half A Life is an impressive first EP from this young Singaporean act. It has a strong feeling of rawness and want for identity, flirting with and meshing different styles and influences in a coherent way. As dark and as sinister the atmosphere this band creates is, there is also a sense of innocence that punches it way through- like you can hear the band discovering themselves through these songs they have written and curated for this record. It definitely has me curious to see where they go- but so far, their talent is recognisable, their ambition is evident and it will be up to them to take this starting off point and push it even further in coming years.

And we cannot wait to see it.

Rating: 8/10

NOISE ‘N’ VISUALS promotes predominately independent or smaller label signed acts. So if you want to support the growing Asia Pacific heavy music scene, please check out the band’s social media.

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