Review Summary: A maelstrom of malcontent.
Heavy music's resurgence in popularity comes as no surprise these days. This digital age, now well into its second decade, all but bombards us with an unrelenting stream of information. A torrent of content that beggars comprehension and overwhelms truth itself.
For a generation that grew up dreaming of world peace, cosmic exploration, and technological advancement, the reality can be overwhelming to say the least. Hard to begrudge anyone a lingering case of discontentment under these circumstances.
A brutalist meditation on the unrelenting transgressions of modern life, All that Follows is perhaps most impressive for its cohesion and composition. Each transition from bridge to chorus to breakdown feels natural, fluid, and refined. Leadoff single It Only Gets Darker defied all expectation on release in July, and its grim portents are well-fulfilled throughout the EP.
Front to back, the EP delivers a focused and sustained invitation to aggression that is perfectly suited to its just over 20 minute runtime. Vocalist Brian Wille's vocal performance shines against an impressive backdrop led by the brilliant guitarwork fans have come to expect from Chris Wiseman. Aside from the indistinguishable bass that metalcore as a genre seems to struggle with, every artist is audibly locked in for the entire affair.
Each song communicates its purpose with a clarity previously glimpsed, but not displayed until now. Tracks like Can't Turn Back offer a commanding invitation to move, and are sure to cause a few welcome injuries live. Wille's tastefully delivered clean lines finally seem to accent his unforgettable range of harsh vocals, including the best fry screams in recent memory.
Since their inception, Currents showed promise, but it seems the full realization of their groovy, chaotic sound required a complete overhaul in personnel, with no founding members remaining. Yet, it's hard to argue with results. All That Follows is undeniably emblematic of the style that first drew fans to their pits. Doubtless influenced in no small part by Wiseman's apparently bottomless well of creativity, the band seems to have found a niche not properly filled by their peers.
All That Follows makes a compelling case that Currents are at their best when at their heaviest, a feat that none of their previous full-length albums seemed to achieve. Aptly released on Halloween, it seems Currents have a truly horrific side to share that fans will undoubtedly respond to in live performances. Let the festivities commence.
