Review Summary: “Widow” is a generic metalcore chug fest, but it can potentially hit the spot when you’re depressed or feel like punching holes in walls.
Immoralist is a metalcore band with a penchant for simple, heavy riffs, and of course breakdowns. In fact, the entirety of
Widow feels like one large breakdown – expect the EP to feel incredibly slow paced. The album trudges along as though the band is carrying the heaviest weight in the world, which actually makes sense in the context of their emotional display. They’re really ***ing mad and they want you to feel it. Every riff carries immense weight like smashing a battle-axe into human flesh. The cymbals aren’t loud enough in the mix, but the album is all about those crushing riffs and the almost inhuman growls that accompany. I couldn’t help but laugh at the band’s overly dramatic display at first, but then the album clicked. Maybe it’s because I’ve been depressed lately and feeling crummy, but theoretical explanation aside, I totally dug the album.
To be fair (putting on my imaginary critic glasses), Immoralist is a dime a dozen, generic metalcore band without a creative bone in their body. Breakdowns are played out to the bone because of bands like Immoralist that refuse to go against the grain. Breakdowns aren’t essential to display anger, so why they have turned into an obligatory method of communication for some metalcore bands is beyond me. Regardless, Immoralist has jumped on the bandwagon eagerly, intentionally abusing the crap out of breakdowns, so whether you enjoy
Widow will have a lot to do with how many you can stomach.
In the end,
Widow is an album for those that like their metalcore breakdown laden, and brutal as ***. Normally I would rate such an EP a 2.5/5 easy, but Immoralists’ effective anger bumps this a .5 for me. If you’re looking for your next jam while road ragin’ or killing puppies,
Widow just might fit the bill.
