High Rise are only a young band in terms of years (having only formed around 18 months ago) but they seem like old heads, having toured with the likes of Press to Meco and Lock & Key. However, this record is only their first release! Yes you read that right! Left It For Everything (LIFE) is the debut EP to come from the band and they bridge the gap between anthemic metalcore and hardcore. If you’re a fan of the likes of Beartooth and Bury Tomorrow, you’ll most likely enjoy this monster of a record!
I almost stopped writing this review as soon as I started. The temptation to start a pit in my room is too strong! The opening bars of Hands Untied sets the tone of the album, very heavy with some monster guitars and pounding drum/bass combo. The combination of harsh screams and smooth cleans mix well.
Title track L.I.F.E has a more melodic opening before launching into some very tight screams. While the opening track is a complete pit track, L.I.F.E brings a mixture of a pit track and an arm waving track with the melodic sections. Reborn has angry vocals and a great beat.
Throughout the EP, there is plenty of talent on show. Vocally, the way the record mixes the screams and cleans compliment each other. At times, the record sounds a bit like Beartooth but hey, who said that’s a bad thing? We definitely don’t! There is a great drum beat and bassline throughout and some good riffs. For a debut EP, this is a very strong one! Now when do we get a full album?