Hardcore is alive and well – go to any small town’s local venue on a Thursday night and there’s a chance you’ll enter a hot room filled with sweaty people lining up to throw or catch an elbow to the face. The genre is as in demand as ever, with new bands like the young five-piece Glower baring their teeth, claiming their territory and showing that the next generation of politically-pissed off rebels are kicking things up a notch.
Formed in 2019 by a group of uni friends and matured over the course of the pandemic, the band bring an exciting mix of metallic hardcore and prog metal, with emphasis on groove and big moments, instead of the constant intensity that other hardcore bands bring. After a solid first EP release in 2021 with Eyes Full of Spite, the band now look to develop their sound and incorporate wider influences.
Straight off the bat, Gaunt Sun delivers its first blow, with the blistering drum flurries and dense guitar churning of ‘Killing Floor’ delivering a shock to the system, as vocalist George Wright begins to scream and howl like his grapefruits are in a vice. Giving way to a series of pummelling grooves before diving headfirst into an expansive breakdown, the track sets the pace for savage but calculated beating to come.
“Heaps of slowdowns, breakdowns and beatdowns – with no let downs”
The EP certainly doesn’t shy away from disgusting sludge. With Wright’s incendiary vocal delivery and lyricism, ragers ‘Apoplexy’ and ‘Infiltrator’ provide heaps of slowdowns, breakdowns and beatdowns – with no let downs. Drummer Rogelio Sosa is a force to be reckoned with behind the kit, dishing out plenty of fiery fills and rapid machine gun fire beats that pair perfectly with the down-tuned savagery guitarists Tom Chalk and Lloyd Midgely bring.
What makes the band truly impressive, however, is their versatility. For every brute force chug there is a soft synth or a pristine clean guitar part – a testament to the band exploring their more subtle influences. Songs like the ethereal and chilling ‘Screams of Agony’, with its siren calls and reverb-drenched drum hits, serve to balance the fury and intensity in a wonderful way, giving the EP great depth.
The production throughout the band’s work has always been good, but Gaunt Sun sounds huge. Guitarist, song writing mastermind and producer Tom Chalk is very talented at creating consistently evil vibes, his experience ensuring the EP flows seamlessly under the guidance of synths, guitar feedback, samples and more.
Every instrument has space to shine and bring the material to life; drums that could cut through glass, guitars that could saw through a tree trunk and a bass sound so rich and deep, you could drown in it. Glower are only just getting started, but if Gaunt Sun is anything to go by, the band have a real shot at rising to the top with their unique take on hardcore.