Every so often a band emerges with a release that’s a real eye and ear opener. We Left Them For Dead’s debut self-titled EP is nothing short of a no holds barred, explosion of sound bursting into life with aggression and jaw dropping technical ability.
Encompassing a mixture of styles, this release has got all areas covered with a mixture of gang chants, harmonies and call and response vocal patterns peppered throughout. There’s no easing up as the listener is bombarded by a venomous delivery of heartfelt lyrics and crushing instruments. This is especially clear on the third track ‘In Thirteen Years’ which is slower off the mark than the other songs on the EP as it’s not an instant, in your face wall of sound much like the others, but demands respect with cleverly structured end rhymes in its verses making it poetic as well as hard hitting before reaching a massive crescendo.
The final track ‘Eyes To The East’, which the band have not long since released a self-shot music video for, tackles the controversial subject of recent activities in Syria and the Middle East. It’s said to be a song that “the band takes a lot of pride in” and immediately conjures up the image of a politically charged, sweat soaked room full of likeminded people banging their heads. Everything hardcore punk should be about.
This ferocious effort from the Leicester based six piece is brimming with anger, frustration and more guitar riffs than you can shake a stick at as well as being both melodic and diverse. This is apparent in the guitar work that at times echoes that of Alexisonfire and The Fall Of Troy with its technical ability and speed whilst simultaneously ripping through a plethora of traditional hardcore and thunderous rock n’ roll.
Clearly We Left Them For Dead are a force to be reckoned with and definitely not one to be slept on at any given opportunity.
JAMES DAVENPORT