LASTELLE released their all-new EP Exist Vol. I earlier this month.
Tackling themes of mental health and lost love, Exist Vol. I is an emotional journey over just six tracks. I’d have to agree with past comparisons to the likes of Underoath and Holding Absence, though some other names came to mind as I listened. It reminded me of the music I’d hear on Kerrang! as I learned alternative music, artists such as The Blackout, Mallory Knox and Yashin.
Exist Vol. I is a difficult EP to write about without completely ruining the ride for you. Each song has its own stand-out moment. A few moments hit me more than others. The chorus of Breathe Me In drew me in. The way that it breaks from the screaming of the verses, along with the general melody allowed me to feel the song, and the way that notes at the end continue this emotional experience. In Unison is a big, heartfelt finale of the album. It discusses the emptiness felt when you lose someone close to you and perfectly portrays the feeling of trying to gather your thoughts after that, while trying to make sense of what you feel.
Emotional is probably the best word for the EP. It’s the one thing that comes to mind with each track, but instead of softer ballads, LASTELLE has taken the approach of big, epic, alternative tracks. A great EP, which has made me want to listen to what else LASTELLE have to offer.