_{Artwork & Layout by @samarathomasart}

_{Review by Kayla Hamilton @kaylazomboid}

One of Adelaide’s newest offerings to the heavy music gods is Theurgy. Bringing an intensity and ferociousness to their live shows, this band has been making waves since their debut. A few days ago, the band dropped their debut EP, Theurgy and…let’s just say for their first EP, there is so much to talk about.

Here is why.

Starting off with ‘saferoom’, you are slowly brought into an atmospheric intro that sets up the tone of the EP. It is like being led down an outdoor corridor in abandoned, misty and cloudy wood. You are then taken into the bottom of an abandoned room and asked to witness the carnage that is about to go down. While there is fury, there is also a sense of comfort in the chaos. That groove is undeniable and makes for the ultimate set-up for what is come.

The first question that came to mind when ‘static screen solution’ kicked in was “are you ready to fucking dance?” Because that’s what this track immediately inspires. With every listen of this song, it seems to take over my body. Rocking, swaying and two-stepping, it is a collision of heaviness and melody. Despite the crash, it still feels somewhat harmonious. There are moments of melancholy that lead you back into that groove, before plunging you back into speed and heaviness. Rare moments of clean singing from vocalist Louie Wokeman, there is something so oddly nostalgic about this song. From it’s name, it’s structure and especially the outro, I’m catching a whiff of some early-mid ‘00s posthardcore/emocore threaded in.

In what was the second released single from this EP ‘moulded by the spiral’, has been in my regular rotation since it dropped a few weeks ago. Everybody in the band is on their A game in this one. From the absolute brain scratching riffs from guitarists Layne Anderson-Hill and Caleb Thompson, the beefy as hell bass from Luke Pearce and the clever fills by drummer Blake Pedler. It has an essence of mathcore, early posthardcore/metalcore ala Converge and for this millennial metalcore fan- it truly is just a thing of beauty.

Back in April when ‘clipping angels wings’ dropped, I quickly realised that this is one band that I needed to watch. Unique, but also super familiar, I was immediately inspired by how they are able to set the mood quickly. I also quickly realised that this tune was straight up mosh metal shit. The ultimate introduction the what Theurgy are about, this ride of a song gives you the opportunity to throw down in almost every single way. Courtesy of Mr. Pedler, the drums are on another level, taking this track from being very, very good to bloody excellent. The breakdowns are just classic sounding but I was so not ready for the strip down and the bass finale. It is a masterclass on how you can create a stir familiarity of with your listenership, but still have them guessing and surprised.

The final track by Theurgy, on the EP Theurgy is ‘theurgy and while that might sound repetitive, this song is anything but. If anything, it is solidifying the bands identity. It is also the perfect showcase of what is going on in Adelaide hardcore/metalcore right now as it features a guest appearance from Calem Pepper-Freeman of current Adelaide heavyweights, SIGNALS. The vocals of Wokeman and Pepper-Freeman really capture the essence of not just this song, but the entire release. Blending together beautifully, there is a sense of power and emotion that just rips right into you. Not to mention, the breakdowns here are straight up nasty. Again, I go back to how Theurgy are able to pull you in with a nod to some nostalgic and familiar sounds, and then, perhaps even unknowingly, surprise you with a switchup and the moment they do this in this track is probably one of the most unexpected moments on this EP. Not only does it come out of nowhere but it also brings us back to the atmospheric echo that saferoom conjured up at the beginning. Just when you think you are at the end, you are hit by an obscenely heavy breakdown, complete with nasty gutterals, sludgy guitars and like you are being crushed in slow motion. 

Theurgy is the first pillar of what may truly be a groundbreaking act in not just Adelaide, but the Australian heavy music scene. It is a foundational release that will hopefully set the tone on what is sure to be an exciting future for this young band. Not just a mark of potential, but a display of current prowess, I feel that this EP may be one of my highlight extended releases for the year. 

Give it a spin, now. 

_{Theurgy by Theurgy is out now. Stream it here.}