Where former members of Attack Attack! Went on to form Beartooth (Caleb Shomo) and Of Mice and men (Austin Carlile); Andrew Wetzel (the band’s former drummer), formed Nine Shrines alongside Devon Voisine and Andrew Baylis (both from Life on Repeat) back in 2014. It’s taken time for the band to find their feet, but their debut EP, released via the well-respected Mascot Records, has certainly been worth the wait. A heavy, melodic disc featuring five tracks, there’s a sense of defiance that suggests that the members of Nine Shrines are content to be the underdogs no longer.
Opening track ‘Bend’ emerges from a haze of heavily distorted guitar augmented with gleaming electronic elements that really come into their own on the stripped-back verses. With a strong sense of melody, there’s a pop-edge to the singing offset by some devastatingly heavy riffs meaning that the song will lodge itself firmly in your brain whilst never losing its taut, metallic edge. It’s a powerful introduction to the band and it bristles with energy and confidence. ‘King of mercy’ is a track with which many may already be familiar as the band released the video back in March (see below). Heavier than ‘bend’, it is fuelled by a sense of rage that is only marginally sweetened by the glorious hook found in the chorus. A huge, stadium-sized metallic anthem, it’s easy to imagine tracks such as this taking the band far and they certainly don’t lack for ambition. ‘Parasite’, a song about those who suck the spirit out of others, is no less venomous in its attack although the verse, built around filtered drums and stuttering electronica focuses on melody over spite, recalling Wovenwar with its slick melodies and glistening production. ‘Lost’, a more introspective number and also the longest track on the EP, is a subtle mood piece that shows a different side to the band. Vocal harmonies are deftly used as is a subtle, trippy, electronic beat and the song earns the heavy guitars that finally appear towards the second half of the track. Going out with a bang, the EP’s final track, ‘Misery’ has a sweet groove that is given extra bite thanks to the stuttering electronica that flows underneath the potent stab of the guitars. It’s a fitting end to the EP and a sure-fire mosh pit killer in the live arena.
A fine debut, ‘Misery’ offers melodic vocals, razor-sharp guitars and powerful performances. There’s a feeling that the members of the band have poured their collective heart and soul into the making of this EP, perhaps seeing this as a final shot in a fickle industry. Whatever the motivation, it has paid off because Nine Shrines have left no stone unturned in their efforts to produce a hard-hitting EP and it certainly should open up the band to legions of new fans. 9
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