Judgment is a Post-Hardcore band out of Ontario, Canada. The band consists of Ev Gallows (vocals/rhythm guitar), James Hack (lead guitar), Cameron Smith (bass) and Ryley Robertson (drums/vocals). We have been following Judgment since they were still playing under their former band name a few years back. From then until now, Judgment has demonstrated tremendous growth. Their sound and style are perfected and they are taking the Post-Hardcore world by storm! On November 24th, Judgement released their powerful new single, “Define Alive”.
“Define Alive” is, without a doubt, my favorite Judgement song to date. The second the track begins, the listener is immediately captivated by the powerful instrumentals and heavy vocals. “Wake up, with open eyes you’re sleeping. Wake up, with open eyes you’re sleeping” radiates through the speakers, sending the listener into Post-Hardcore heaven. The screaming mixed with the singing vocals mixes flawlessly. I’m telling you, the beginning of this track alone will have you hooked.
I had the chance to speak to the band and get some insight into the story behind “Define Alive”. The guys shared that “it was written about the struggles of finding a purpose in life, and the fact that the only way to do so is to remove the blinders created and influenced by other people from your eyes, and to follow where your heart and gut tell you to go.” With society in the current state that it is, this message is more important than ever before. People crave the approval of others. Without it, they feel like they’re doing something wrong. The sad thing with this is that it completely takes away from the individuality of a person. Judgement has the correct mindset here. People need to be able to find their OWN purpose in life, not what someone else led them to believe. The first verse of “Define Alive” exemplifies this message perfectly. “Lately, I’ve been a slave to this darkness, just trying to figure out what sets me apart. But maybe, I’ll find that it’s brighter, if I embrace who I was at the start. With patience wearing thin, in places you have been, find comfort in your skin, don’t like the path you’re walking then, wake up, with open eyes you’re sleeping (you’ll feel so alive).”
Judgment hit us with one of the best single releases of 2020. “Define Alive” is exactly the song that every Post-Hardcore fan needs to hear. It encompasses all the things you know and love about Post-Hardcore with Judgement throwing their own spin on the sound. This is going to be an amazing song to witness live. I can picture all the fans moshing away while they scream the lyrics at the top of their lungs! Make sure you follow Judgment on all social media platforms, check out the music video below, and steam “Define Alive” on the blog’s Spotify playlist: After Hours Review!