Introductions are important. If you’re introduced to a band and told they’re ‘Hardcore’s most exciting newcomers’, you’re going to have a very different opinion to if you’re told ‘They Suck’. State Of You do not suck.
Hyperbole aside, this is a band with pedigree. It’s made up of established hardcore band members and they know what they’re doing. Their impressive 2022 EP might remind you Cancer Bats or The Bronx and has a distinct Every Time I Die flavour, neatly summed up by vocalist Steve Sitkowski’s yell ‘This is British Rock ‘N’ Roll!’.
So, new EP ‘On A Knife’s Edge’ sets out to do one thing; live up to that reputation. However, now we know what they’re capable of, we have expectations. This time his yell of ‘This Is Your New Cocaine’ might be the statement of intent; it sounds illicit, makes your heart race, and because it’s cut with impurities it’ll undoubtedly go further, but is a slightly diluted experience.
The trip begins with ‘Cut The Rope’. A druggy swirl of effects-drenched guitars and drums lead us in, until a grubby bass tone drops in and suddenly it’s a massive rush. The song might be built around rock ‘n’ roll riffs but it knots and contorts so it’s never just trying to tear your ears off. Each subsequent track is a similar mix of uppers and downers, so while ‘Under The Wire’ rips breathlessly along, ‘Two Of A Kind’ repeatedly screeches to a halt, teetering on the edge of a comedown but never quite losing its restless energy. Of course, it helps that all the songs swing in with weighty choruses (the refrain of “I know that you’re tired, I know that you’re confused” is delightfully catchy) so even though there’s a marked contrast between the stomp of ‘Which Way The Water Flows’ and the dirty breakdowns that define ‘Two Of A Kind’, you’ll find yourself hooked somewhere.
Working with Oz Craggs (of Feed The Rhino), the band has captured a sound that’s a clear step up from their debut. It’s thicker, bassier, and sounds more expensive. However, its big ideas have a price. Steve Sitkowski’s distinctive, but fairly ‘one note’ yell is often layered with a clean counterpoint to give the songs a slightly more melodic feel. This isn’t a problem in itself but the second voice can have an oversized influence on a song’s direction. Their mere presence distorts the tone of songs like ‘Under The Wire’ and are in effect a trade-off that dilutes what makes the band special but in doing so makes the EP more accessible than its predecessor.
As it name suggests, ‘On A Knife’s Edge’ is a careful balance. I’ts aggressive, energetic and designed to make a big impact. There’s still only one way to introduce State Of You; Hardcore’s most exciting newcomers.
IAN KENWORTHY