Continents - ‘Lifeline’ review
Continents
Welsh metalcore quartet Continents mark the beginning of a new era with the release of their new EP, Lifeline. The boys have given us 4 new tracks, combining synthy ambience with low-tuned rumbling guitars, glitchy electric drums and even explosive choral vocals, bringing a futuristic twist to the metal sound we know, and little to no break from the chaos.
“Gaslighter” opens up the EP with low-fi guitar and some quick ticking drums before throwing you into the action with a very hardcore-esque guitar riff. Phil Cross’ vocals come screeching in and keep the momentum rolling, it will have you headbanging immediately.
There’s a brief but cool pre-chorus with some interrupting radio channel effects and loudening guitar feedback. The highlight of this track for me, however, is the latter half. The noise cuts and we have Cross screaming with a choir behind him, really shifting the atmosphere. The music gradually builds before exploding back into a simple lead solo with a much slower but still huge rhythm while the choir continues, while being less heavy, it still grasps your attention from the rest of the song.
“Hurricane”, the second single released, is next up. This tune takes a more sludgy approach with very low bellowing tones from the guitars while tremolo-ing ambience and trancey synths behind. The hook of this tune, ‘It hits me like a hurricane’ will not only have you screaming along, but will throw you back through the years and give you that early 2010s metal nostalgia, featuring a little more melody rather than all-filth. The chorus is also followed by a gritty breakdown/post-chorus to scowl at before the next track begins.
“Lifeline”, the EPs title track and first released single, provides some of the collection’s heaviest moments. The soft guitar and ambience reel us in to start before the pounding guitar bursts in. Scott Waters’ Drumming shines through in this song, carrying the chorus with a rapid and unrelenting pace. When we spoke to Cross about the band’s changing sound and perspective, he shared:
“The chorus and heavy section are both about when you feel like you’re just stood there and everyone’s looking at you but you’re in your own head overthinking things.”
While much of the song feels typical of metalcore, the breakdown section feels very hardcore-inspired. It is easily the heaviest moment in the EP and will no doubt get the limbs of fans flailing everywhere in the pit when it’s played live with its stabby and aggressive rhythm.
“Gritted Teeth” closes the EP and finishes with a bang. A very catchy riff kicks the song straight into action. This song feels like a 90’s hardcore track at heart highlighted with futuristic tweaks in its synth and ambience use and its djenty breakdowns which it hypes up hugely both midway through and at the end. There is almost no melody vocally in this track except for the odd chanty line in the chorus. Continents clearly wanted to make this song more chaotic and fun rather than trying to match the larger-than-life atmosphere which the other tracks prioritise.
Overall this EP is enjoyable and shows some solid creative development in Continents’ musical ability. I look forward to seeing what their next fusions/influences are for their next work.
Lifeline from Continents is out now on all good streaming platforms.