Review Summary: What's old is new again.
Still Remains were never a band that I gravitated toward in my teenage years when I primarily listened to metalcore, especially of the Christian variety. They had some big hits off
Of Love and Lunacy like “The Worst Is Yet to Come”, but they were never a go-to band for me. When you're immersed in a dominant sound within a genre, it all starts to blend together, and Still Remains got lost in the endless shuffle. Back in the day, high quality melodic metalcore was abundant and pouring out of all of our collective ears. You had August Burns Red, Haste the Day, As I Lay Dying, Darkest Hour, Unearth, Killswitch Engage and All That Remains all operating at the peak of their powers during the same era. We didn’t know how good we had it, and that’s only scratching the surface. Still Remains sat just below the genre's powerhouses and household names, putting together a quiet but respectable three-album career before bowing out with 2013's
Ceasing to Breathe.
By the beginning of the 2010’s, the melodic metalcore explosion slowly fizzled out, replaced by different takes on the genre. The sound that was once vibrant and fresh was beyond played out. However, time makes the heart grow fonder. I think that for many listeners, what once seemed overplayed and stale now feels refreshing in an era where djent-influenced metalcore has dominated for well over a decade. Still Remains couldn't have chosen a better time to reappear out of nowhere. One of the greatest things the internet has done for music is make it easier for artists to take their time, spending years crafting new material while continuing to live normal lives. We're living in a golden age of reunions and unexpected one-offs that I never would have dreamed possible.
Still Remains waste absolutely no time jumping back into the fray. Lead single "The Wound and The Weapon" is not only one of their heaviest songs, but also one of their best. It's fitting that the band enlisted the services of the legendary Guy Kozowyk, who sounds just as monstrous as ever, adding a level of density and weight that I only wish stuck around a little longer. Hopefully, it's a bite-sized appetizer for the long-rumored and eagerly awaited Red Chord reunion album, but I digress. The track is exactly what you'd want from a Still Remains song in 2026. Their signature electronic keyboards perfectly complement the melodic guitar leads, crunchy breakdowns, and a surprisingly strong hook to boot. While "The Wound and The Weapon" serves as a familiar and welcome return, "Spirit Breaker" is something else entirely. I was completely caught off guard when the introductory melody transitioned into a pulsating EDM-style beat that builds tension before the drop. When that drop finally arrives, it's attached to a nasty riff that's absurdly catchy. It's an absolute banger of an electronicore track, complete with falsetto vocals, angelic chants, and a seamless blend of club-ready beats, blistering melodies, and metallic aggression. It's the complete package, reminding me of a more mature take on peak Attack! Attack!. The song is so anthemic and unabashedly fun that I'll undoubtedly be returning to it again and again over the coming months whenever I need a little pick-me-up. That's how you take a bold creative swing.
While
Spirit Breaker doesn't possess the raw aggression and gloomy keyboards that made Of Love and Lunacy so distinctive, its cleaner production still works well, allowing the keyboards to pop more while maintaining a satisfying level of heaviness. Lead vocalist TJ Miller puts in a strong shift on the harsh vocals, while clean vocalist Michael Church has noticeably improved over the years, bringing more range and energy to his delivery. The closing trio of songs leans more toward what longtime fans might expect and doesn't quite reach the heights of the explosive opening duo. They sound like tracks that would have fit comfortably in 2006, but they're executed well enough to remain thoroughly enjoyable. If you've been longing for that classic 2000s melodic metalcore sound and all of its familiar tropes, these songs are likely to hit the spot, featuring plenty of serviceable hooks and quality guitar leads. "Waste of Breath" closes the EP with a trademark keyboard-infused breakdown, putting the cherry on top of a tightly packed and efficiently utilized nineteen minutes.
Still Remains are back as if they never left, much like their contemporaries in Haste the Day. Both bands emerged around the same time and have now reappeared in tandem. Their respective releases make for excellent companion pieces, delivering familiar sounds that feel freshly rejuvenated and inspired after lengthy hiatuses. A style that was once thoroughly run into the ground now feels genuinely refreshing amid a sea of sterile djent riffs, and I don't think that's simply nostalgia talking. There is a real energy and urgency here that proves undeniably infectious. The current crop of mainstream metalcore bands could stand to learn a few lessons from these grizzled veterans of melodic metalcore's heyday. If this EP is any indication, Still Remains have plenty left to say.
