PALEHELL

What the hell is this? I haven't really heard any projects from the band Paledusk before. I was kinda intrigued when I heard the song "AREA PD," and felt like it was a different execution of a djent produced metalcore track. I decided that I would check a project by these guys when one would release, but this EP is not what I was hoping to hear.

I have a lot of problems with this project. A lot of the vocals, especially the clean vocals, sound like they're straining in order to try to sound unique. Instead, it just hurts my ears and makes me wonder if they're hurting their vocal cords as well. The lyrics aren't strong either with examples like "going higher and higher alive" and "I'm so into rocking myself." While listening, I found this record to have a lot of randomness and a lack of cohesiveness. Like with the marching band snare part at the end of the title track or the weird horse and water sound effects in the track "SUPER PALE HORSE," which both aren't adding a narrative to.

A majority of the album isn't even that unique, as a lot of songs sound like they're inspired by Enter Shikari. The djent on here isn't that different from other bands either. The song "TRANQUILO!" instrumentally is just another overproduced heavy djent track. The track "RUMBLE" might be one of the messiest songs I've heard and it does not do a good job at transitioning and adding other genre elements to it. "I'm ready to die for my friends" might be one of the most annoying songs I've ever heard in my life with its chorus and how the tone of the song name doesn't match its sound.

I guess one of the few things I can respect about this EP is that some of the guitar riffs sound like they would be difficult to play as well as some of the drum parts. It's also bold, that's something I'll never hate anyone for. I hate being negative but this project made me want to walk away and never come back.