Review: “Everyone For Themselves” by Our North

“This EP delves into these contrasting scenarios, exploring the tension between self-preservation and the impact of selfishness on interpersonal relationships. The tracks reflect on the complexities of navigating a world where self-interest often clashes with the need for community and empathy.” ~ Our North

Describing their sound as equal parts chaos and catharsis, created by blending bruising Metalcore riffs with ambient synths and the occasional Trap Metal vibe or two, Our North hail from the Steel City. A burning desire to follow in the footsteps of local heroes Malevolence and While She Sleeps and become a global force to be reckoned with, guitarist Chris Harrison, drummer Jonny Dransfield, bassist Chris Hepworth alongside Dan Feast on vocals and guitars have spent seven years forging their sound in the furnaces. Now they step forth into the light, ready to make good on the promise of their hard work with raw emotion, sonic experimentation and lyrical depth and take a bite out of you life…

Dark and distorted, the socially aware lyrical narrative of “Choked To Death” with its ice cold programming makes for a menacing and sinister start to “Everyone For Themselves” with gravelly unclean vocals… and then everything changes. Twisting and contorting, as if from out of nowhere the band pull a clean sung chorus followed by a Trap Metal bridge that on first listen might throw you off the scent. That’s simply because those elements break up the perpetual darkness of the Alternative Metal onslaught like a jackhammer shattering a concrete slab, firing chinks of light through the dark clouds overhead. Fortunately they’re moments that grow on you with each repeated listen and in doing so the track becomes something of a guilty pleasure complete with a “Bleigh!” moment that will win you over. Ambient programming introduces “Something To Be” with a deep sense of melancholia, a clean opening verse breathes “Sempiternal” era Bring Me The Horizon with mid tempo warmth from the guitars breathing life into into it. Perhaps the surprise of this one is the step up into heavier climbs from sing-a-long, lighter waving territory to flirting with the power of DJent. It’s a powerful conclusion that makes all the difference before the seemingly Seething Akira inspired “Violent Rules” takes hold. A rich blend of the melodic and the heavy that flips the script on alternative vocal likes, its one upon which the contrast feels brave. The unclean vocals are almost too vicious for the soaring choruses which will take you into Fearless Records long running Punk Goes Pop series in terms of stylings. It almost reaches the point where Our North become a kind of gateway band for people to get into heavier things, which seems a strange thing to say on a debut record.

The Trap Metal rears its ugly head once more with title track “Everyone For Themselves” pushing the boundaries with more hip-hop flow over icy keys to reach Dropout Kings territory, the mid tempo crush something which you can feel they’re going to squeeze ten percent more energy out of live. The tension filled atmosphere is then shattered like a mirror with the last thing you might expect, a Slam Metal vocal outburst of throat splitting horrors tearing a hole in the fabric of space and time. It’s such a left field moment it feels like a crowbar to the skull, a middle finger to the establishment that says you simply can’t make these moves and call yourselves Alternative Metal. Anything goes when it comes to creative spirit and if you’re doing it for yourself first before seeing if anyone likes what you’re doing then all power to you. Returning to the tried and tested, the hip-hop flow introduces “Above The Water” before the guitars open up the floor in Modern Metalcore fashion, again floating on the stark contrasts within their sound. Slick lead riffs add another dimension as the band push the envelope of their established sound once more and it may leave you wondering just how long they will be able to maintain such patterns. Last but by no means least “We Come To Life” floods the ear canals with something that approaches an arena filling anthem, a couple of well executed false endings keeping you on your toes [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Choked To Death
2. Something To Be
3. Violent Rules
4. Everyone For Themselves
5. Above The Water
6. We Come To Life

“Everyone For Themselves” by Our North is out 4th July 2025