Not Like This by Transgressive
Over the last few years, I have found myself picking up on more Metal. I was a Metal kid who wandered into different rooms musically looking for different experiences. It took me on quite a journey, but I never really found my way back. I always kept my heart warm with Helloween, Ozzy, Judas Priest and some others,s but my library never really progressed beyond 1990, which I have now found to be a real shame.
Partly because of Bluesky, partly because of my friend Florgoth I have finally wandered back to that room and blimey charlie, it’s thrown up some truly great music. Metal that honours its source but has, in some ways, taken it further and made it less rigid.
The EP we are featuring today is probably my favourite Metal release of everything I have heard in the last two years, and that is a tightly packed field.
It is a blistering record. The riffs rutt like a beast, and every lead has purpose and melodic intent. The vocals are out of this world. In fact, every part of this recording is so on it, it’s impressive.
For me, though, it’s the attention to detail. No opportunity is left unworked. It’s melodic, tight, driven and comes at you like a rocket, waving a bullet belt above its head.
Its message is serious. As a heart attack:
“When your privilege shatters
Remember all we said
Because of your compliance
We’re already dead”
Come for the music, listen to the words.
Sometimes, truth has to be screamed into peoples faces. That is exactly what Transgressive did with “Not Like This”. The message of the album is pretty clear: politics, ecology, society, the entire world is in a bad place and is continuing to deteriorate. Understanding and accepting our failings is the important first step in bettering ourselves and the situations surrounding us. And we have to stand together if we want to make it through this mess.
This EP is exemplifying what makes Thrash such a popular and exciting part of the Metal genre. Drums and bass are driving the songs forward at a brisk pace, while rhythm and lead guitar provide texture and a dynamic sensation. Vocalist Bethany “Beef” Pitts, however, gives the standout performance. From growling harsh vocals to soaring, ringing belting, Bethany shows incredible flexibility and power. That she didn’t completely steal the show is a testament to the amazing abilities of the whole band.
Overall, this is an EP that I have recommended people to check out in the past, I am doing it right now and I will do so in the future. In a year that was full of stellar releases, this is one of the best and most engaging. The message is clear and important, the songwriting hits the mark in all aspects, all of the artists involved put out amazing performances and the production sounds excellent. This truly is a release that is worth gushing over.
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