Review Summary: More of the same from one of the strongest bands on the UK scene.
Southampton quartet Desolated have undertaken an intriguing career path to date. Starting out as a fairly generic deathcore band, the band’s sound has gradually evolved to incorporate the increasingly prominent influences of beatdown and hardcore, culminating in 2013’s hard-hitting, mosh-inducing EP Disorder of Mind. With their latest release, the 7” two-track Fear of Life, Desolated pick up right where they left off with two songs cut from the exact same cloth.
For the uninitiated, Desolated waste no time with introductions as the first pounding notes of End Of The Line kick in. Those familiar with the straight-up, no-nonsense style of Disorder of Mind could be forgiven for thinking they are listening to the EP again such is the similarity in the sound of the punishingly heavy guitars and the crisp production, making every pounding open note hit home like a sledgehammer to the head. The song is relentlessly heavy and excruciatingly intense throughout, bursts of crushing power chords making for an overpowering wall of sound between moments when the feedback is cranked up, building up the most palpable intensity; this eventually culminates in a beatdown finale preceded by the ominous refrain of “survival of the fit; only the strong survive”, destined to be the latest anthemic call at the band’s notoriously raucous shows.
The song comprising the second half of the record, 1985, largely mirrors the first. Again, bulldozing riffs dominate, separated by bouts of blood-stirring feedback, cranking up the intensity in near-tangible fashion. Once again, the song reaches a thunderous climax with the desperate cry of “I’ve breathed my last breath; there’s no light at the end of the tunnel” as the closing beatdown riff drops. It may not be anything new, but it’s devastatingly heavy and will no doubt be brutally effective in sparking mayhem in a live setting.
Lyrically, Fear of Life also continues in much the same vein as Disorder of Mind. Having moved on from the anti-religious emphasis of earlier releases, the lyrics this time around again focus on the very real theme of mental illness. Lines such as “if only you could see the pain in my eyes, you’d know I’ve reached my demise” effectively capture the sense of despair and hopelessness that is synonymous with depression and compliment the uncompromisingly heavy, bleak sounds on offer.
In summary, Desolated are undoubtedly playing to their strengths with Fear of Life. Those who enjoyed Disorder of Mind will love the near-identical barrage of punishingly heavy riffs and drums on offer, while those less appreciative of their no-frills beatdown style will not find anything new here. Either way, Desolated have strengthened their position at the forefront of the UK hardcore scene with two devastatingly heavy songs that will slot perfectly into their live roster and incite yet more carnage at their disreputably wild shows.
