27th February 2022

Review: “Nihil” by eyesnomouth

Since their 2017 debut, a revolving door of musicians have graced Summerset outfit eyesnomouth may have made them think about closing the book on the project but but now having settled on a line up for their third EP in five years and said to be working on a forth offering, it’s time we checked out “Nihil“. For this one mainstay Ashley Easton switches to guitars and is joined by vocalist Aiden Reed, guitarist Rob Porch, bass and backing vocalist Corey Millard and drummer Steve Curtis with the band recording and mixing done by Ben Turner at Axe and Trap.

The throat shredding, venom spitting vocals of opening cut “Wretch” set the tone for “Nihil” with the band sounding like the Blackened Hardcore band that nightmares are made of, spin kicking their way through your living room in a two step meltdown of total annihilation. Expect venues to be decimated before their inevitable reduction to rubble when eyesnomouth play live because their hybrid sound that leaps genres in death defying single bounds is actually a lot simpler and effective than some may give it credit for. Take opening cut “Wretch” as a prime example; Dark, self loathing and introspective lyrics from the heavier end of Nu-Metal combine with Hardcore energy, Sludge Metal guitar tones and Death Metal abrasions with a down tempo ending that scalds. Inspirations come from an array of bands but there are the Will Haven esq Noise Metal vocals and the loose feel of Raging Speedhorn in play throughout, bleeding through the bandages that the band put upon themselves in the dark, dank basement torture chamber hell that they no doubt call their rehearsal space. “Vent” does exactly what it says on the tin, cathartic piece with bucket loads of mid tempo hardcore groove, a vicious little ditty that sonically sounds like an early Coal Chamber demo accompanied by the kind of battery acid vocals that separate flesh from bone. In a World where nothing has any meaning anymore, the total disrespect for their surroundings in a futile attempt to feel something is evident for all to see and each one of these vicious lashings out are as much a cathartic release as a call for help from beyond the void [7.5/10]

Track listing