lonelymagnolia – Isolation As A Form Of Self Defence | Album Review

Are you still in love with the post hardcore craze of yesteryear? Do you yearn for the synths and energy of the mid-to-late 2000’s? Then please, take a seat.
Hailing from Leeds, lonelymagnolia started as a one-man project by vocalist/guitarist Joe Parsons. Drummer Tom Lawrence (Prozpekt) then came into the fold toward the end stages of the EP and with the two-piece creating the band’s debut EP, Isolation As A Form Of Self Defence.
Five songs spanning 22 minutes and bringing back the mid to late 2000’s post hardcore sound with synths, inspired by bands like Enter Shikari and Every Time I Die, lonelymagnolia have crafted their own sound that makes them stand out from either of those bands while retaining the signature synth breaks and crunchy guitar tones that made that era as iconic as it is now.
Pounding drums and thick guitar riffs open the EP with ‘Edgerunner’. Parsons’ vocals range from low cleans to throat ripping growls in an instant. The guitar tone Parsons uses is beautiful. Thin in some places that adds to the DIY nature of the band and full and thick in others creating an abrasive nature. ‘S.I.B.Y.L’ show the songwriting of the two-piece unite to craft something intriguing. Lyrically the song is about becoming desensitised to the cruelties in the world via doomscrolling endlessly. Parsons’ vocals on this track in particular are cleaner and slightly out of tune adding depth to the lyrical content, but his growls are feral and disturbing.
‘The Glade’ is the most energetic song on the EP with the synths in full effect with pinch harmonics aplenty with a razor-sharp guitar riff. Featuring an elegant appearance from Dream State vocalist Jessie Powell and Parsons harmonising in places. The song also pushes Parsons’ vocals to the limit as his vocals hit two concrete blocks being rubbed together territory.
Isolation As A Form Of Self Defence being the debut EP of the band’s existence is almost a homerun for the band as ‘Diesel Nosebleed’ feels like the only instance of filler, but it’s still nothing to turn your nose up at and ignore. Not many bands put their first foot forward on their first release. As history has told us some bands not only miss their footing but sometimes crumble on their first output, but lonelymagnolia with their chaotic and sometimes hard to stomach lyrics have taken their start by running out of the gates.
Score:7/10
  • # Isolation As A form of self defence, lonelymagnolia, Metalcore, Post Hardcore, Self-released
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