16th July 2020

Review: Self Titled EP by Tongues

Back in 2015, vocalist Colin Jeffs exited Brisbane Australian Deathcore Aversions Crown with the statement “This is a difficult call for me to make but a necessary one. The band has been my sole focus for the past five years and whilst it has been an amazing experience it has also been a very draining one. I’ve reached a point in my life where this band is just not what I want to focus on anymore and feel as though if I can’t put 100% of my heart into this I shouldn’t be doing it at all. This decision is not linked to me being absent from the current tour or my recent vocal scare, it’s something I had comes to terms with before these events. Thanks to everyone who has ever supported what I do in any way, it’s been real”. It was that statement which set the tone for a new project by the name of Tongues with the slogan “Tongues become Snakes” at it’s eyebrow raising center. The quintet hailing from the Gold Coast have to date created the one self titled EP, record, mixed and produced by Nik Carpenter at Core Studios which was released in November 2016 and one we’ve waited a long time to review…

…it doesn’t take a genius to realise that Colin Jeffs is p***ed off. The track titles alone are indication enough and if you watch the Hysteria Magazine interview with him that appeared around the release, it’s pretty clear why. After 26 seconds of eerie build up “No Solace” kicks into gear with Jeffs offering some throat ripping vocals during the first fist clenched verse before DVSR frontman Matt Youkhana drops a verse. Rooted in Deathcore the cut has serious DJent chops and when the vinyl scratch section appears at the back end it’s perhaps more due to Youkhana’s presence than anything else but works really well. “Vermin” opens up the floor with Jeffs venting his spleen over some vicious Deathcore riffs and when the vinyl scratch work reappears, it’s a pleasant surprise. Headbanging rhythms back off the furious vocals and Jeffs keeps expressing himself with alternating tones and depth. He feels like he’s been crossed, stabbed in the back and he’s not happy about it.

“Dead Hand” keeps up the energy and there are times when the vocal layering gives the impression of two vocalists rather than one. The riffs have an ocean of bounce with staccato pause breaks like bursts of automatic weapons fire and when the blast beat section with a Tech-Metal riff lands on the plate, it’s a left field move with a purpose. “Wormfood” replaces the need for a solo with vinyl scratching and programming while remaining crushingly heavy. One measure Metallic Hardcore, one measure Deathcore and one measure DJent, the guitar work is solidly impressive throughout while keeping Jeffs the focal point, front and center. “Old Hate” brings with it some eerie momentary pauses while packing down the gunpowder with plenty of bark and bite. It’s one of a couple of tracks to feature gun related sounds buried in the mix and it’s loaded with a black thoughts of time wasted that will never be got back. There is no better way to release those demons than getting catharsis from making a record and this is one you’ll want to hear [7.5/10]

Track listing