Review: “Me And All My Demons” by Jawfane

“We are absolutely beyond words for how excited we are to bring our first collection of songs into the world with and through Exitus Stratagem Records. It has been an absolute privilege working with Gordon, Jason, and the team to bring “Me And All My Demons” to life. This record is a personal journey for Jawfane. Sonically, we brought the hammer, lyrically we brought a bigger hammer, and we intend to beat out a place in the world for us and our brand of Metalcore.” ~ Jawfane

Hailing from Nashville Tennessee, Jawfane announced themselves to an unsuspecting world back in 2021 before waterfall releasing seven standalone singles. Initially floating a melody driven Post-Hardcore influenced sound, over the past four years the five piece have grown in stature, evolving their sound and dipping their toes into the clear, calm waters of the heavier end of Metalcore. Which is a bit like going from a beach to going to an alligator infested swamp. At the same time guitarist Cory Pack, keyboardist Jesse Marquez, vocalist Austin Heipp, drummer AJ Chacon and bassist Chase Shumann have earned themselves a reputation for their live performances. Sharing stages with everyone from Earth Groans to Dropout Kings landed them a deal with Exitus Stratagem Records and having spent a year crafting their debut EP “Me And All My Demons“, they’re ready to see what we think of it…

As a band Jawfane write their material in collaborative process, where traditional roles are often flipped upside down: guitarists writing bass parts, bassists writing guitar parts and instrumental sections evolving into vocal melodies. This fluid approach is perhaps what is behind the diversity of the bands sound, opening cut “Damaged Goods” keeping you on the edge of the seat, not sure what is going to come next. A haunting introduction with Mathcore tinged bass and keys build a little tension before a barked first verse underpinned by DJent fuelled riffage reaches up and touches the void into Deathcore. Just as quickly as they fell, the band soar like an Eagle, riding on the thermals, offering up a lush chorus of clean vocals and rich melody. At least three members of the band contribute vocal parts in all manor of styles, this first track alone sounding like Counterparts fighting Make Them Suffer. Emotive and cathartic, arguably the sound shouldn’t work on paper and yet once you wrap your head around what the band are trying to do it works surprisingly well. They make you think on the first couple of spins and that makes the reward when you get that lightbulb moment all the more sweet.

Dancing with the devil on the 13th floor “Cataclysm (Nightmare)” maintains the momentum with icy synths replacing a second guitar and adding a eerie, haunting depth to the bands sound. Fortunately however mixed the record gets the balance right here and the synths don’t overpower the rest of the instruments, the varied vocals once again being masterfully done. A horror movie style introduction gives title track “Me and All My Demons” a different starting point, the 2003 era American Metalcore guitar work wonderfully nostalgic as the band wear their influences on their collective sleeves. Punchy and raw, the cathartic energy of the tune is melancholic in nature, bleeding from influences in bands like It Dies Today. Chugging guitars are wrapped in warm leads, the one two punch of the twin vocal attack fierce enough to bring it home with the melodic grand finale a Chef’s Kiss moment. Floating down stream into “For Those Who Have Heart” era A Day To Remember territory there is a softer underbelly to “Friends and Enemies” which lends itself to a sing-a-long chorus with a few jagged rocks rather than the other way around. The intriguing thing about this one is that it doesn’t sound like the band are forcing it and it certainly doesn’t feel like style over substance. A similar vibe runs through “Time Hunts Us All“, a delicate bridge in the middle making way for galloping drums before launching headlong into oncoming traffic with a breakdown. Embracing heavier sounds while not letting go of their softer roots is a challenge but it seems to be for now at least one they’re thriving on [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Damaged Goods
2. Cataclysm (Nightmare)
3. Me and All My Demons
4. Friends and Enemies
5. Time Hunts Us All

“Me And All My Demons” by Jawfane is out 27th June 2025 via Exitus Stratagem Records