23rd December 2023

Review: “Anti Human” by Waterlines

The story goes that after the departure of vocalist Lizzie Parry and Dan “Hendo” Henderson from Progressive Metalcore favourites Sertraline in 2022, Benji Mars was recruited to continue the dream for guitarists Tom Wilson and Mike Hawkings alongside drummer Si Douglas. However the quartet very quickly came to realise that a new sound and direction was on the horizon and so they changed their name to Waterlines, freeing themselves from the shackles of their legacy and allowing them to start afresh. Instead of Progressive Metalcore, in the rehearsal space they found themselves blending Nu-Metalcore with EDM, so they recorded debut EP “Anti Human” in house before shipping it to be mixed and mastered by Oskar Sutton (Overthrone, Storm Harbour, Blind Summit) at Infinite Audio…

It has to be said that there is still some of the Sertraline sound in Waterlines as the powerful DJent riffs of opening cut “Anti Human” evidence and this feels very much like an evolution rather than a revolution in sound. The electronic elements add a sinister edge of darkness as Benji Mars bares his sole with introspective lyrics; there are even a couple of points where the band reach through the void into Nu-Deathcore, the crushing breakdown that brings the cut to its inevitable conclusion an absolute masterstroke. An interesting choice of vocalist, Mars has a phenomenal range with the ability to sing, scream and rap to great effect, something which against the soundscape the band have created with cuts like “Prey” puts them in an entirely different place. There are parts of that cut which throw back to the likes of “High And Low” by Palisades from 2013’s “Outcasts” record, such is the Electronicore sound that Waterlines are tampering with, the difference being that this is so much heavier and darker. “Konig” then takes the Yorkshire quartet into Ten56 territory with two-step-able Deathcore inspired staccato riff breaks, the sung chorus giving it an anthemic quality. The level of verve and swagger that the band pour into these tracks exudes confidence and ensures the result is nothing short of lethal. Polyrhythmic riffs rise to the surface of “The Halo Around The Horns” and nuances bleed out in the mix over multiple listens, the chorus once again huge with warm sing-a-long ability without losing any of the momentum or energy of the crushingly heavy verses. A record from a band with an instantly appealing sound, familiar and yet different, it’s one that has it all and will keep you coming back time and time again, especially for those breakdowns [8.5/10]

Track Listing