Brisbane hardcore four-piece Headwreck delivers a competent entrance onto the scene with their debut EP ‘Glamorise Demise’. While labeled hardcore, the project has more sonic similarities to the metalcore wave of post-hardcore, think ERRA and Northlane.
While borrowing heavily from the established pop-metalcore conventions, Headwreck takes some good approaches here. From their focus on the glum of having an anxiety disorder and the dissociation that entails, to the deployment of modern djent riffs, this is a very enjoyable album however seems very stuck in already heavily trodden ground.
My favorite track on the record by far is “Nicotine”, with the interlude “Respite”, on-theme delivering soft instrumentation using piano and synths to set up a fantastic transition into it. Nicotine seemingly takes some direct inspiration from other post-hardcore acts, mostly hearing Architects, with heavy tech djent instrumentation, some nasty breakdowns which will send my elbow into someone’s back in a few months, and awesome dynamic vocal work. The deployment of two fantastic vocalists seems perfectly integrated and will be awesome to see live, the instrumentation is also tuned in to the max. With the tracks sounding incredibly tight and well produced.
However, the pop metalcore fusion becomes inspired by, to derivative in the middle track “The End of the Suite”. Sounding almost ripped of Amity Affliction’s last album I feel like this is really showing me that Headwreck may be trying to repeat a formula that was almost tired a decade ago. To see what post-hardcore has delivered in the same city of Brisbane since Amity’s rise check out last year’s album ‘Detritus’ from Grieg. In stark contrast to ‘Glamorised Demise’ glistening clean production and fantastic mixing, ‘Detritus’ delivers something fresh, raw, and inspired. I feel as a debut project Headwreck has approached this album’s lyrics and themes seriously and delivered them with the earnestness mental illness deserves. However, the instrumentation and songwriting aspects borrow too heavily from already established bands, moving forwards if Headwreck is to win over crowds they will have to deliver a more unique sound.
Headwreck: Facebook
Release Year: 2021
Label: self-released
Category: EP
Country: Australia
Reviewed by Jhai Bartley
