Heroes of the UK post hardcore underground give us a glimpse of what their newly reshuffled lineup has to offer.
Earlier this year, after two albums, UK post hardcore/screamo band As Living Arrows announced that vocalist Thomas Wagstaff would be parting ways with the band and that they would be carrying on as a four piece. Line-up changes can often be quite a worrying sign from an outsider’s perspective, especially losing someone as vital as a vocalist/frontperson. However, any worries doubters may have had will be cast aside after the first lisen of the band’s latest EP, Fragment I. This is a release which not only heralds a new beginning for the band, but gives us resounding hope for the future.
Previous As Living Arrows releases have had somewhat of a more black metal/blackgaze influence alongside the clear screamo influences the band wear on their sleeves, sounding like somewhat of a cross between Deafheaven and La Dispute. While there is definitely a pinch of blackgaze remaining within their sound with opening track ‘Epiphany’ having some melodic blastbeats reminiscent of Deafheaven, those elements are brought back more into the background. Overall, this EP has a a brighter and more melodic sound to it as the band brings more midwest emo and math rock influences to the forefront. This is most prevalent on the EP’s closing track ‘Karma’ which has some twinkly and intricate arpeggios alongside the closest that the band has ever gotten to clean vocals. While this approach is overall more melodic, it still retains the intensity and aggression that As Living Arrows are known for.
One strength that Fragment I has is that each track has it’s own unique identity. Opening track ‘Epiphany’ is somewhat of a halfway house between Deafheaven and American Football which alternates between melodic math rock passages and intense blastbeat passages. ‘Broken Bones’ has passages somewhat reminiscent of latter-day “UK Swell” acts with verses that parallel earlier Svalbard releases. This is followed by ‘Wraiths’ which sounds like a track that could have easily fitted on 2024’s Hope And Ruin with it’s darker and more black metal influenced sounds, and then the EP closes with the most overtly emo sounding song with the aforementioned ‘Karma’. These differing soundscapes work in giving the EP variety between tracks, and while on the surface they can feel somewhat disjointed, there is enough throughline between tracks that allows them to work together as a collective release with a good flow between tracks.
Much credit needs to be given to bassist/vocalist Pete Fox for stepping into the front person role this time around. On previous releases, Pete has provided some distinctive backing vocals which added some gravitas to certain sections of their back catalogue. He slips into being the band’s great vocalist with great ease to the extent that you sometimes forget that this wasn’t always his role within As Living Arrows.
With Fragment I, As Living Arrows have successfully navigated the transiton between vocalists and come out the other end with some of their best work yet. With such great ideas on display across all four tracks, hopefully an album which sees them fully expand on the direction started here will emerge in the not too distant future.