HERO IN ERROR-SELF-TITLED EP
I became a fan of Irish metalcore outfit Hero In Error through their exceptional 2011 debut The High Point of New Lows, an EP that has aspects of bands like Every Time I Die and SikTh, but which really boasts a distinct sound all their own. It still sounds ahead of its time today. It was not until 2016, however, that we got new music from Hero In Error in the form of a single that leads off the 2017 EP Obey, but that’s been it for recorded music from the band until now (for more on the backstory that brings us to this EP, as well as more context about the EP itself, you can watch my interview with guitarists Gary and Rob here!), with the band’s three-track self-titled EP releasing next month, their first new music in seven years.
Both of the first two tracks of the EP—"Enemy Within," released as a single in mid-February, which leads off the new offering, and "Moths to a Flame"—incorporate a lot of atmospheric elements that wash in and out of the songs, creating a dream-like soundscape that often comingles with the punchier heaviness. "Enemy Within" opens with some high desert, mirage-like ambience, which carries across large stretches of the track and ultimately makes the heaviness—especially the breakdown in the song’s home-stretch—hit that much harder. The song feels a little After the Burial-ish in its effect at times. "Moths to a Flame" follows a similar playbook, but this shouldn’t be read as "re-hashing," as it’s just as dynamic and interesting a cut with its skillful execution and dream-like, melancholy atmosphere; the introduction of clean vocals also adds some memorable variety.
"Left in Your Absence" closes us out as the sonic cousin of the first two tracks, but one which is much more hardcore in orientation with its Returners-era Ghost Inside vibe. It’s another very well-executed track that makes great use of melody to provide added emotional texture to the "core," a dynamic exhibited in its variations to strong effect across the EP. It’s an invigorating and welcome return from a band I've been waiting seven years to hear more from. Now, hopefully we won’t have to wait until 2032 for more new music!