Review: “IO” by ten56.

“We wanted to keep exploring the heavy industrial sound that we found on ‘Downer’, but introduce a more structured approach. With our first releases, we were just wanting to make the noisiest, most shocking stuff we could. And on this record, we’ve definitely taken a step back on a couple of songs to allow us to think about structure, hooks and singalongs, the things that go down well live… Sometimes I’m writing from my heart, and in other other instances, my writing comes from this other voice in my head that won’t shut up, and wants to say something violent, aggressive and disgusting” ~ Aaron Matts

Known for the trail of the dead they left in their wake with scars earned on stages in Betraying The Martyrs, Uneven Structure and Kadinja arguably vocalist Aaron Matts, drummer Arnaud Verrier, bassist Steeves Hostin and guitarists Quentin Godet and Luka Rozaka don’t need any form of introduction. They’ve been tearing fresh holes in the time space continuum on an alarmingly regular basis since 2020 with with their uncompromising Nu-Deathcore project ten56. their prized pair of debut EPs in “Downer” and “Downer: Part 2” taking them worldwide. It’s amazing what you can do when you refuse to bite your tongue isn’t it?

There is a groovy swagger to the opening burst of aggression that is “Doormat” with Matts spitting fire with his usual blood letting intensity over eerie industrial programming and violent chugging guitars. It might sound like a cliché but it very much sounds like the quintet never left the studio after “Downer” was recorded, the opening cut bleeding form the same vein as the bands previous works. Twisting, contorting and shapeshifting “Pig” then takes us into Trap Metal territory with more quirky programming and rap style vocals between sections of bombastic guitars in Deathcore blood and thunder. The violent sonic contrast is what makes it as Matts vents his spleen cathartically, influences in bands like Emmure rising to the surface almost immediately. Brooding dark moods and clean vocals then come into play with “Snapped Neck” however neither of those elements lead to a reduction in urgency or intensity as ten56 double down on what took them to this point and instead use the other elements as embellishments. Glitchy guitars and a Nu-Metal style sing-a-long chorus with aching qualities brings this one home as arguably the bands most experimental piece and in reality that puts them in a similar space to Australians Mélancolia with their recent album “Random.Access.Misery“, stylistically at least. Respite is provided with the advert for an anti-depressant “LIFEISACHORE.MOV” which promises medicinal freedom from “these annoying little things called ‘emotions.’” which is a hilarious touch of knowing humour.

A 93 second burst of violence in “I Know Where You Sleep” offers up a return to the utter madness that came before the advert, the quintet going super heavy before the roar of the title and drifting into downtempo territories. It works like a shock and awe tactic, catching you completely off guard on the first couple of spins after the melodies that came before it, going off like a metaphorical flash bang before the brutality that is “Good Morning“. Pummelling percussion and bouncy groove centric Deathcore riffage gets the head nodding with the instant appeal of the track, Matts welcoming us to his very own personal hell with the lyrics. At points the glitchy guitars of “Earwig” make it feel like a sequel to “Boy” as it spirals down self destructive paths, its dark energy and infectious rhythms capturing the imagination as much as the scream-a-long vocal moments. Where a couple of the tracks sound almost incomplete as they fade to black, this one is an absolute powerhouse that knowns no bounds. Nu-Deathcore in its purist form comes in the form of “ICU” as ten56 attack in waves, pushing the programming to a new level in order to allow them to play with off kilter polyrhythms in their staccato riff breaks. Verrier’s drum sound is nothing short of huge and in tandem with the rumbling bass from Hostin they give the others the backbone they need to express themselves to lethal effect.

Down tuned guitars and clanky bass help create a sinister mood that reaches battery acid nausea inducing levels for “PTY FCK” as Matts tells a dark tale of being used for glue and left to realise he was deemed not good enough. What’s interesting about this one, aside from the reversal of what many would consider the stereotypical male and female roles in the lyrics as Matts plays victim to an Apex Predator of a female is the nuances that flow through its core. Over repeated listens to this thought provoking track there are moments of blood gargling as Matts shifts through multiple voices, getting lower and lower but not quite reaching Slam vocal territory. Instead after a situation plays out during the opening of “Friends” we get given hip-hop beats and rapping as if cut from a torture scene in a low budget gangster movie. Its a plot twist you might not have seen coming on the first spin but it works while allowing Matts to get vocally more creative with the heavy hitting “Banshee“. The guitars on this one flow in a similar direction to what we’ve heard from bands in the Australian scene like Diamond Construct, the band creating a sense of tension that you could cut with a knife as they fight their way through a labyrinthine of disturbingly gnarled melodies. A pure hip-hop track “IO” brings things full circle with brave honesty as Matts looks back on the past and admits to his mistakes, wishing he could start again. Its a bleak way to end a dark, brooding record but its also strangely fitting because this time its personal… [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Doormat
2. Pig
3. Snapped Neck
4. LIFEISACHORE.MOV
5. I Know Where You Sleep
6. Good Morning
7. Earwig
8. ICU
9. PTY FCK
10. Friends
11. Banshee
12. IO

“IO” by ten56. is out 5th September 2025 via Out Of Line Music