Review: “Warpath” by Majin

Recorded, mixed and mastered at Ruin Studios, “Warpath” marks the debut EP from Southampton Cyberpunk influenced Deathcore collective Majin, a band on the rise having introduced themselves as a quartet during the year of the Great Plague. Subsequent singles “Marked For Death” and KoRn cover “Freak On A Leash” have been followed by the announcement that the band have added Gregor MacMillan of London Progressive Metalcore act Derelict as a second vocalist. So as we’re predicting big future for them in 2021, were heading back to the start for a review…

The urgent DJent groove of “Argent Cell” breaks for off kilter oddly time signatured staccato riffage before breaking back with a certain amount of Hacktivist flavour to it, but the vocals are pure throat splitting unclean Deathcore so while the track has more mainstream appeal it could also see Majin as a gateway act. That’s not to say that there aren’t any skull crushing moments on this one, the tail end certainly brings its fair share with a couple of breakdowns packed in for good measure. Flavours of Emmure with oppressively dark atmospheres are present on “Monolith“, which treads very similar ground before a brighter guitar work breaks the destructive patterns. If you thought that clean vocals might rear their ugly head, then you’d be wrong although there is a whispered passage that cuts a sinister churning tone before a brutal Slam esq roar a Downtempo breakdown section of which Betrayer would be proud. The buried electronics give that Cyberpunk aspect and add a point of difference, although don’t take it to the heights of genre boundary pushing acts like Within Destruction. “Deceiver” again turns up the DJent bounce as well as the electronics, bringing slab after concrete slab of sonic weight to the table. The surprise on this one is that the vocal extremes push apart with some Slam moments of sheer ear splitting destruction counter weighted by a barked almost sing-a-long chorus.

In “Ansatsuken” (meaning “assassination fist“), the electronics provide a sinister edge against the menacing and brooding DJent riffs and having opened the EP itself with a sample from the classic first person shooter series Doom, the video game influence within this darkness is obvious within the confines of the lyrics, creating a caustic sense of claustrophobia when coupled with their sound. The rhythmic power is pummelling and infections throughout before the mournful sense of melody in “Judgement” helps to make it more accessible with a barked vocal that has decipherable lyrics and a clenched fist. What Majin have is the versatility to have a long career in Metal if they want it because they have within then the ability to create sonic shockwaves that will set off any Mosh pit [8/10]

Track listing

  1. Argent Cell
  2. Monolith
  3. Deceiver
  4. Ansatsuken
  5. Judgement Day

Warpath” by Majin is out now

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