Far From History
Gallows Hill EP
(Self-Release)
By now, a metalcore band has one of two options to success: innovate (e.g., Issues) or play with massive amounts of flair and passion (yes, this is a severe over-generalization). UK band Far From History falls into the second category, but they offer up a neat batch of ideas into their latest superb EP. On the surface, it’s somewhat surprising that the band don’t hail from Lancaster, PA, as their proggy groove/melodeath sound recalls that city’s excellence (August Burns Red, Texas In July, and This Or The Apocalypse). However, this little EP showcases how many different weapons the band has in their arsenal. Far From History really nail how to play metalcore with a passion that oozes from the speaker, making it sound like a fun style again. Between dazzling melodies, honest-to-goodness catchy choruses, and neck-snapping breakdowns, this is about as good as progressive metalcore gets.
Despite aggressive lyrics, this isn’t bogged down by lengthy breakdowns or rote tough guy-isms. Instead, each of the six songs on Gallows Hill shows off a different deviation from the band’s melodic metalcore. “Rupture Farms” has a sneaky melodic guitar line that ABR would be proud of, while “A Negative” is reminiscent of Erra’s best. Elsewhere, feels closer to For The Fallen Dreams covering Soilwork (in a good way), and “Shockwave Asylum” has a neat little Slipknot thrashiness to it. Unfortunately, the vocals are a bit too close to Attila’s rap-metal flair for comfort, but it’s not enough to kill the track’s killer momentum.
Far From History have gobs of potential, and they show it very well in this excellent six-song EP. However, you get the sense that this is still a stepping stone for the band, not the final destination. Their (hopefully) eventual full-length is one to watch out for, but Gallows Hill isn’t anything to sneeze at in the meantime.
Purchase Gallows Hill here: Physical | iTunes
