EP Review: A Whispered Promise Of Failure by Long Goodbye
EP artwork for A Whispered Promise of Failure by Long Goodbye
You can't have a conversation about UK metalcore without mentioning one band from the North East, Long Goodbye. A band cemented as a must-see in the scene, loved for its chaotic riffs and the unhinged, demonic vocals of frontman Patrick Morton. A band that has no interest in making metalcore feel comfortable, polished, or an easy listen. Long Goodbye’s effort into their new release is a grand mutation of their past work, emulsifying its chaos, causing it to bleed through all of their past work into one EP “A Whispered Promise of Failure”.
This isn't just another heavy metalcore regurgitated breakdown-focused record, this EP is a true recollection of haunting cinematic brilliance. These guys know how to build up tension through their song writing and are miles better than most other bands in the scene these days. This record isn't just firing off as many chugs and churning out double-kick blast beats as possible in hopes of one-upping the hundreds of other bands all doing the same thing. Every section is written as though it is leading up to the next demise. They truly understand how to control the rage of each song through silence, uncomfortable ambiance, and a little use of spoken word that buckles you up for the thick of it. Panic chords, shooting blasts from the kick drum, and vocals that would make certain people think the antichrist has arrived; it's all here with purpose.
The vocals are ludicrously good. Long Goodbye frontman Patrick, you are stupid. The brutality he is mauling through every song is ridiculously layered on top of the razor-sharp riffs and is utterly absurd. Instead of having some ultra-compressed vocals floating above the track acting like an afterthought, the vocals are etched into the mix with precision. when commentators fall silent encapsulates Patrick at its best. The sheer energy he causes to crawl out of this track is distilled through the sheer mayhem each member brings to the table. Patrick is abrupt, aggressive, and sounds consumed in fear.
Production is immaculately flawed, rawness flourishes here, allowing “A Whispered Promise of Failure” to breathe and not feel boxed in. A true feeling as if the band is playing their heart out right through your headphones until each riffs silence is faded, taking you to the next chapter. It's gritty and unfiltered to perfection. The lows are quiet, the highs are crushing. The tonnage of each instrument hits like that one guy in your local scene you stay away from in the pit. There is no hindrance or cuts caused by the raw production style; it sounds mastered with intent to impact its listener, as if the band was directing all of its aggression towards you.
Long Goodbye is a true testimony to their predecessors. The metalcore landscape is far and wide, but they sit in that more restless, heavy, horror-like sound. The blueprints from the past are there but never recreated. They show great showmanship and make art through passion, not because it's trendy or cool. This level of selfishness is necessary here, as this EP further carves out the legacy of what Long Goodbye is as a band. Whilst they aren't reinventing the wheel, and the only complaint about this release is the occasional familiar style of breakdowns found in their previous work, they mastered the art of execution on “A Whispered Promise of Failure”.
FFO: Zao, Chamber, Converge
SCORE: 9/10
A Whispered Promise Of Failure is out now via Papercut Recordings/The Coming Strife
