Atria – Ground Zero EP
Atria – Ground Zero EP
Self-Released
Release Date: 18/08/23
Running Time: 26:08
Review by Beth Morait
10/10
On the (now) rare occasion that I do get to listen to new music, I like something that grabs my attention straight away. And, when I saw the press release for this new EP from Canadian Anthemic Modern Metal band, Atria, I was instantly intrigued. Not only is it one of the most informative and best written EPKs I’ve seen in ages, it also said, ‘For Fans Of Slipknot, Mudvayne, Soilwork, Killswitch Engage, and Tool’, which is the music equivalent for me of ‘You had me at “Hello”!’ I had big hopes for this EP… And I was not disappointed.
With regards to the theme, it’s an exploration of anger at yourself, and the world around you, which comes across brilliantly not only in the lyrics, but in the punching and punishing sounds that Atria manage to create.
The EP kicks off with title track, ‘Ground Zero’, a song about realizing that your prayers to God will never be answered. It’s nearly 6 minutes of solid, technical Modern Metal, with thunderous rhythms, guttural growls, and blood curdling screams, interspersed with superb clean vocals. It is very Killswitch, and I’d say that influence is the most obvious within the band’s sound on this record. The Pacey Bass in the verses traverses along like a high speed train, and the riffs are harsh and overdriven. It also twists and turns with a progressive feel, that makes the breakdowns even more dramatic. This is definitely how to make an entrance.
And this is how the EP continues. ‘Antiheroes’ talks about losing faith in the government and media, ‘Dysmorphia’ explores body dysmorphia, and the media’s relentless attempts to sell us unachievable ideals, ‘Just A Number’ discusses the fact that, no matter how hard you work, you’re just a cog in a machine. And they all do it with the same brutal musicianship as the first track.
This is really, really good shit, and far more accomplished than their relative infancy as a band would suggest – they originally formed in 2017 and released an initial EP, but now have a brand new line-up and this is their first record with the new members.
The final track on the EP, however, moves completely away from what we’ve heard so far. ‘The Brightest Light’ is a gentle, melancholy lullaby to Lead Vocalist and founding member, Tom Emmans’ lost unborn child. It’s incredibly emotional, and created from a heart suffering from inconceivable loss. It’s a very brave creation, but it also shows the immense talent of the band. There really is nowhere to hide in a song like this, and they control it so well.
The production is perfect, the musicianship is on point, the songs don’t outstay their welcome, and while it’s familiar, it also feels fresh and current. I’m not sure if I’ll get to review 10 releases this year, but if I do, this is going to be right up there in my top 10. Well done gents. You’ve pretty much floored me, but in the best way possible.
‘Antiheroes’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Ground Zero
02. Antiheroes
03. Dysmorphia
04. Just a Number
05. The Brightest Lights
LINE-UP:
EP Line Up:
Tom Emmans – Vocals
Tim Ross – Guitar
Brody King – Guitar
Joe Mullen – Bass
Jerad Sterling – Drums
Live Band Line Up:
Tom Emmans – Vocals
Tim Ross – Guitar
Brody King – Guitar
Jake Fortney – Bass
Jerad Sterling – Drums
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Beth Morait and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
