Ever since the release of their 2013 debut Royal Blood, Atlanta natives Come and Rest have been on the rise, and now the metalcore quartet is back and better than ever with their sophomore EP.
Blacklist opens with the fierce “Millenials,” a crushing track that sounds like a hybrid of Gideon and Beartooth. The sung chorus makes a nice contrast with the abrasive delivery throughout the verses. What really stands out on “Millenials,” however, is the packed bridge. Between the dueling vocal lines and the eerie guitar effects, “Millenials” never lets up here, nor does it at any point in the song. This pattern of not letting up continues on the brief but fast-paced “Soapbox.” Here, the dueling vocals return on the tune’s chorus, and the sung parts from the previous track have disappeared altogether.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-C83832VRM[/youtube]Perhaps the strongest song on the entire EP is the atomic lead single “Slowburn.” This tune showcases a browbeating guitar riff throughout, and a unique vocal delivery in the chorus, where it sounds like frontman Noel Alejandro is trying to sing and scream at the same time, creating an intriguing sound. The most note-worthy segment of “Slowburn” though is undoubtedly the sung bridge, allowing for an eerie atmosphere after the instrumentation has simmered out from the previous chorus. “Feeding Crows (Evermore)” features quite a bit more melody and sung parts than any other song on Blacklist, while still never letting up.
The fiery “Behind My Eyes” is among the “low points” of the EP, and yet there’s still a feeling of intensity throughout, even if it doesn’t possess nearly as much staying power as any of its predecessors. “Behind My Eyes” leads straight into the outro, “Dead Poet Society.” As its title suggests, “Dead Poet Society” interpolates lines from the 1989 motion picture over top of a subdued instrumental line. The sense of finality can be felt in “Dead Poet Society,” making it a fitting way to wrap things up.
A fantastic release from start to finish, it’s really no surprise that the Atlanta-based metallers have eclipsed their debut with Blacklist. The group’s sophomore effort seamlessly blends elements of post-hardcore, metalcore, and hardcore all in one fell swoop, making for a rather enjoyable (albeit brief) listen. Consequently, the EP is certainly not for the faint of heart, and aesthetically it does falter in a few spots. Overall, however, Blacklist outlasts many of its metal contemporaries.
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