Review Summary: Reorder of Mind
In spite of their ‘what if hardcore was just the bits that makes you want to punch people in the face?’ approach, Desolated remain an oddly endearing bunch of gents. Their steadfast DIY ethos- mostly unchanged since their pivot away from deathcore- infuses each release with a sense of earnest commitment, a trait that continues to serve as a reliable foundation for their beatdown-heavy brand of hardcore.
Finding Peace is no exception in this regard. A clear labour of love, especially considering the constraints of its production, it finds the band on familiar, but slightly sharper ground. Still, enthusiasts will be pleased to note that the crew are still full of anger, still shouting about the usual bugbears, still hammering out the blastbeats, and still going ‘ooh!’ during breakdowns. Wouldn’t be a Desolated record otherwise, would it?
Though it flirts with adjacent genre elements,
Finding Peace is unmistakeably a Desolated record- even with the addition of new vocalist (and former bassist) Tony Evans. There’s a greater emphasis on riffs over grooves to undercut the meathead aggression, but every second of this brisk LP is soaked in crowdkill energy and even a hint of sonic refinement over previous full length,
The End. The songs feel thrashier overall, leaning harder into more traditional hardcore tropes while retaining a notable metallic bite that crisps up the mix. The trade-off is a slight reduction in sheer blunt-force impact- but for many, that added clarity will be a welcome shift.
There’s a few occasions, notably on ‘Glass Ceiling’, where the elements clash in a way that feels jarring, and while this may seem like a bizarre complaint for band who engineers their sound to be as hard-hitting as possible, such moments stand out due to how structured and straightforward the rest of the material is. Nonetheless, the groovy heel-grinding of single cut ‘Lessons’ and the satisfying sparseness of the beatdowns on ‘Endless Betrayal’, ‘Let It Slide’ and ‘Victim 2.0’ scratch that lughead itch with aplomb. A brief but inspired sidestep into death metal abrasion on ‘Dead End 2025’ expands the palette further still, integrating naturally into the surrounding chaos without derailing the momentum.
Evans proves an undeniably snug fit for Desolated’s established sound, offering a more resonant vocal profile that previous frontman, Paul Williams. As a slight caveat, though, Williams’ style, although not as powerful, possessed a ragged, almost desperate strain to it that not only bolstered the band’s individuality, but also felt exceedingly appropriate to their nihilistic, brooding style. Evans’ vocal contribution feels much more typical, and although slightly more on-brand for the MLVLTD label, somewhat less memorable. In the case of a band like Desolated, a dulled edge within the vocal will always make for a nastier incision, and result in a more punishing experience. With the songwriting itself remaining very much in the group’s signature style, however, this is a decidedly minor gripe overall.
Musically,
Finding Peace doesn’t stray far from the band’s comfort zone, and it’s unlikely to convert skeptics. Still, with a lithe running time of 23 minutes it’s a reliably groovy, simplistic rager with venom to spare. Chunky, no-brakes energy adrenaline-spikes the experience and Evans invigorates proceedings, but the notable absence of Williams’ gravelly snarl does sap the release a touch of its intended impact. Nonetheless,
Finding Peace remains a fun, breakneck continuation, and although slightly less of an oppressive experience than
The End, is still rife with entertaining beatdown hallmarks.
