The first few minutes into this album I knew I’d found my new favourite hardcore band. Derby based five piece, Skies In Motion are the band responsible for the record we have before us. It’s a rollercoaster ride of chugging riffs, soaring choruses and brutal breakdowns. As debut records go, does it get much better? The band already have a maturity to their writing. Their songs have a unique identity and it’s one I absolutely love.
The record opens with a brief intro track, Architect which starts things off slow but quickly ups the ante. It starts off soft before growing and rolling over into something altogether different. It perfectly flows into Cascades, a blistering track that showcases just how heavy this band can be. Despite being a fairly flat out track it still contains plenty of flair across the track from the vocals to the guitars and production. A chiming guitar lick and grandiose vocals split the track open later on before a crushing breakdown which carries us through to the tracks end.
Fast forward a bit and we get the track Happy Families. Odd title for this genre? Maybe, but it’s a great track. A bouncing riff brings us in to the track which drops down before picking the pace up into the verse. The vocals sit on top with a raw sound, perfect for delivering the lyrics of this song which help make sense of the title. This is to say that the title is ironic. Throughout the album the lyrics are emotionally charged and really finish the picture that the songs paint. The tight verses open into a great chorus, showcasing the vocal talents in this band. The song continues and displays the bands dynamic ability all the way to the end, dropping down and surging back up.
Later on on the album we get When Home Feels Like Distance And Distance Feels Like Home. It’s a long title but the track certainly doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. The track bounds along with energy and power, gliding effortlessly through choruses and breakdowns. It’s a track that shows the bands ability to write not only a catchy tune but one that’s enjoyable to listen to. The bands ability to keep you interested is best shown in the closing track Hopebringer. It’s a six minute medley of madness. The heaviest breakdowns on the track burst into vast atmospheric sections. The production and writing on this track are like a last hurrah, throwing up everything that’s left to end things on a high. The record certainly ends on a high for me.
To talk about the songs individually anymore would run the risk of spoiling the record for any readers’ first listen but believe me when I say they’re all great. The record is inventive, it’s interesting and it’s ear- catching. From the first 2 minutes you’re hooked. Maybe it’s the vocals which are not only performed but produced incredibly well with clean and screamed vocals being blended for massive melodic choruses. Or maybe it’s the guitars that pound, shimmer and squeal throughout the album to give it body. It might even be the pounding rhythm section that delivers an unrelenting battery of bass throughout. The combination of these elements makes for an incredible album that any fan of heavy music should check out.
Life Lessons is released on the 1st of September, check it out when it arrives!