Detachment – “Gaslight EP”
Detachment – “Gaslight EP” (2020)
Independent release
Rating: Yes
Recorded: 2019
Studio: Westfall Studios, NY
FFO: Deftones, Underoath, Norma Jean, Parkway Drive, Counterparts, Pressure Cracks, Every Time I Die, Defeater, Dance Gavin Dance, and letlive.
As the new decade approached I began asking myself, “what could come next for heavy music?”
“If you’re looking for an answer than you’re asking the wrong questions” barks frontman Rob Folan in the opening throws of lead single “Counter Charisma” (music video below).
Let’s start with this: the record kicks ass and has revitalized my hype on a genre I grew up loving but had recently found myself staying from due to how stale it felt.
Detachment’s ability to fit into the metalcore/post-hardcore sub-genres is clear. If you came here to check out some new riffs, they’ve got em. If you just came to slam dance, there’s always room for that on their dance floor. The drummer takes you for a ride but doesn’t come across as overbearing, which is nice, and the vocalist has energy as big as his hair. They’ve even got a dude with a big ass beard playing guitar.
Okay, yeah, it all fits. But why should you bother?
Where “Gaslight” is at its best is when the Long Island quintet breaks away from the tropes carved out by predecessors of the genre.
Their capacity to break outside of modern metal trends (ie angry, percussive slam riffs, ABABCB song structure, obvious ADTR knock off breakdowns, etc.) carries songs like lead-single “Counter Charisma“, “Million Eyes“, and “Six Feet” into emory. Several times I found myself excited because of this group’s conscious decisions to champion their instruments, carry a melody or a groove, and let their predominantly snarling vocals take a backseat while the band did their thing.
This is huge compared to other underground acts that have found homes in tossing ANOTHER breakdown into the airspace just to fill out the song and get a cheap reaction to whoever showed up to an undersold venue. *yawn*.
Exactly.
It’s a welcomed sensation to be challenged, and in many ways “Gaslight” accommodates my needs as an at-home listener (and given we live in a digital streaming world, holds so much weight when reviewing a record).
My take-away: Maybe this realm of heavy metal hasn’t always been a place that has prided itself entirely on subtlety in the past, but it’s time to change that a bit to accommodate for at-home metal heads and young bands like Detachment. I liked listening to this band more than others in the genre because I don’t feel like I’m being punished for loving heavy music and also wanting to close my eyes and be taken on a sonic ride. To date, that often feels like a crime.
So, again, what’s next for heavy music? Rob pointed out I was asking the wrong question. I should be asking “what’s next for the listener” because the clear answer is heavy/melodic records like “Gaslight“.
You can stream “Gaslight EP” by Detachment on all DSPs this Friday, January 17th, 2020.