Record Of The Week. 16/9/2011.

Crossbreaker - Lows EP(Holy Roar Records)



Crossbreaker’s debut solo EP, ‘Lows’, hit the world a few weeks back and has been, if not setting the UK underground scene on fire, certainly getting people talking. With four tracks, none of them over four minutes long it may be a little short as an introduction to the band, but splits and compilation tracks aside it’s all there is so I guess you’ll all just have to deal with it.

Overall, the first impression it gives is of a low-fi Brutality Will Prevail. Mixing mid-tempo sludge ups and metallic lead guitars with more straight up hardcore style riffs (the first minute or so of opening track ‘Woe Is Me’ captures this perfectly). However, the band have a rawer edged sound than BWP, probably owing to vocalist Josh Smith’s gravel gargling style. Imagine Terror’s Scott Vogel if he was half troll (not too much of a leap of imagination if I’m honest) and you’ll be along the right lines.
‘Time Is Making a Fool of Us’ is the stand out on the EP (and also the Crossbreaker track you’re most likely to have heard before) but the other four songs sit perfectly well next to it. ‘Woe Is Me’ is a fist pumping mosh starter while the mostly instrumental ‘Sundown’ ends the EP showing that the band can clearly do more than just pummel you into submission with power chords. Even the weakest track ‘Gravity Ghost’ packs a half decent punch.

Not everything is perfect. As I touched on above I think another track or two would have made ‘Lows’ a much better listening prospect. It feels slightly too short and I can’t help but feel that was there a few more minutes of music (assuming the quality stayed the same) I would have enjoyed it more. My only other gripe is the production. There are points where the guitars are a little too tinny and the vocals a touch lost in the mix. I’m not suggesting a polished, over dubbed production, that would take a lot of the charm away from the record, but playing with a few of the levels might have helped.

To summarise then, a highly promising release worth spending a few quid on if you’re a hardcore fan. A few minor issues aside and you couldn’t ask for much more from the band. If I gave ratings out of ten this would be a six or seven, but I don’t, so go and grab a copy and make your own mind up yeah?

(Lows is available from iTunes for £2.49 or from the Holy Roar website in Vinyl form (insert number) )