There will always be something special about a band that takes it upon itself to put forward a message of hope, light, and the like through music that is close to as heavy as it can get. The contrast between a very physical song and vulnerable, personal lyrics both is one way to make those lyrics more tangible and is itself noteworthy.
That’s where artists like the members of The Anchor come in, who with their new EP, Make It Last, have crafted something intriguing. The band doesn’t seem afraid of baring their souls here, to put it one way.
When listening to their new release, even though they do establish themselves in the midst of a tradition of somewhat similar music, the members of The Anchor are also revealed to have blended what feels like a unique pop sensibility with their brand of metalcore. Now, normally when that can be said about a band it means that they have tempered their overall sound, but that is not the case here. Instead, the band takes the idea of hard hitting metalcore and seems as though they are having fun with seeing what they can do with it. The fun that the band is having is helped along big time by the striking abilities of vocalist Linzey Rae, who goes from deep growls to pleasant sounding cleans with ease.
Besides the vocals, the inventive overall songwriting leaves you wondering at how exactly this brutal metalcore band has been able to make songs that while remaining brutal, stick in your head like a pop tune at times. Not all metalcore bands do that, of course, and here, The Anchor has made metalcore catchy for a reason other than breakdowns. It is an interesting and definitely noteworthy accomplishment that you don’t necessarily see that often.
The Anchor, overall, has a unique approach to heavy music that takes you by surprise and leaves you intrigued and wanting to learn more. Make It Last, clocking in at only five tracks, is like an animal that whizzes by you but you want to stop and learn more about.
Purchase the album here: iTunes | Amazon
