Review: “Your Receding Warmth” by Boundaries

There was a point earlier in 2020 when there was a question mark in our minds over the continuation of Connecticut Metallic Hardcore quintet Boundaries future. Travis Tabron had stepped down from Varials and vocalist Matthew McDougal was filling in during their live shows and doing a stand out job of it. However it seems our thoughts of a switch were misplaced as he returned to record “Your Receding Warmth” with producer Randy Leboeuf (Left Behind, Great American Ghost, Kublai Khan) at Graphic Nature Audio in New Jersey. Starting out in 2015 the band, who are rounded out by Zadak Brooks (bass) Cory Emond (guitar) Junior Scarpa (guitar) Tim “cheese” Sullivan (drums) have toured relentlessly over prior releases in 2017’s “Hartford County Misery“, 2018’s “Spring Demonstration” and 2019’s “My Body In Bloom“, sharing stages with everyone from The Acacia Strain to Currents, Knocked Loose and Spite, while citing the similar inspirations as peers in Vein, mentioning the likes of Slipknot, Linkin Park and Static-X as drawing them together 5 years ago…

…Lyrically combining the introspection of Nu-Metalcore with the bleak emotional turmoil of post-hardcore, Boundaries paint pictures that explore insecurities, escapism and a desire to move forward despite what life has thrown at them; “Your Receding Warmth” being a depiction of not just a broken relationship but of life in a cold World. Sky shattering breakdowns cut through tension filled riffs crossing the genres of the current Metallic Hardcore scene with early 2000s Metalcore, “Fade Away” being a fine example of something that bands like It Dies Today could have formulated if they had been forged a decade later than they were. The edges are razor sharp and as jagged as they come, “Carve” being an insight into a schizophrenic’s mind with a pulverizing Hardcore groove and savage intent. When it comes to the rhythmic battery, bassist Zadak Brooks and drummer Tim “cheese” Sullivan give The Acacia Strain a run for their money, creating clean, crisp and punishing sounds to match the harshness of those bleak vocals and lyrics from McDougal, the mid section of “Get Out” being a particularly bruising affair…

…The mid point of the record comes in single “Behind the Bend“, something new as the band experiment with atmospheres and poetic spoken word segments interspliced with nerve shredding, eerie riff moments which to continue into “Written and Rephrased” which has some chunky Earth Crisis style riffs. Breaking out into more early 2000 Metalcore lead parts makes for a nostalgic throwback for the older discerning listener, finishing with a brutal two step worthy breakdown section. “I’d Rather Not Say” and “One Moment From Disaster” continue the flow of the record with a ruthless streak running through them, the band seamlessly shifting tempo in both directions to make way for the brutal roars of McDougal. He describes himself as a failure, cathartically venting his spleen in ferocious, spitting, snarling and almost rabid style, the latter track even having a blast beat segment to finish on a blistering crescendo high. It is the album title track that cracks rather than breaking the mold, bringing in some Deftones influence into the opening verse as it builds back into a whirlwind of Metalcore abrasions before breaking back. It seems that Boundaries have the ability to create some more shoegazing sonics during their moments of clarity and that is echoed in the final poetic ambient piece “From the Departed, Dear or Otherwise“, a mesmerizing open letter to a loved one [8.5/10]

Track listing

1. Is Survived By
2. Fade Away
3. Carve
4. My Strength
5. Get Out
6. Behind the Bend
7. Written and Rephrased
8. I’d Rather Not Say
9. One Moment From Disaster
10. Your Receding Warmth
11. From the Departed, Dear or Otherwise

“Your Receding Warmth” by Boundaries is out 13th November via Unbeaten Records