For a long time screamo music has held inflexions of grace and beauty which draw heavy comparisons to Post-rock. But it wasn’t till acts like Pianos Become The Teeth married the two together so perfectly that it got the attention it deserved. In a somewhat similar vein of creativity, five Australians going by the name of Foxes are causing a stir. With just one listen of their self titled five track EP, it’s not hard to see why…
There’s no time-wasting introduction; ‘So I Walk Alone Into The Dawn Of The Next Day’ lights up instantaneously, grooving its way towards a more-than-glorious end. The production does slightly let that ending down though when the guitars aren’t as hard hitting as they could and should be. But honestly, don’t let that put you off. Give Foxes your time and that patience will pay off tenfold.
It’s worth saying (even if it has been said countless times already), fans of La Dispute will be right at home with this record. The jarring and danceable post-hardcore rhythms are poured right into ‘Let The Pen Be Your Mouth And The Paper Be Your Ear’ and ‘My Open Hands Were Once Welcoming’, and it’s a great listen throughout.
‘It’s Getting Cold, I’m Getting Cold’ is a track with a pulse that lays waiting, ready to make your heartbeat ascend. After the initial furore, the band move into a haunting crescendo where vocalist Alex Shom screams “ALL I FEEL IS COLD” with enough chilling conviction to make you not just believe every word, but to feel each one shudder its way right through you. He takes this performance on to the final track, where he and the rest of the band blow your ears right open with a finale the Explosions In The Sky would be proud of.
A big “DO NOT AVOID AT ANY COST” label stuck on these guys – most definitely ones to watch for the future.
JAMES FOX