For a base emotion, rage can be exhibited in a multitude of ways and come from the plethora of places. From domestic abuse to protesting police brutality, metalcore band Dying Wish cover it all with Fragments Of A Bitter Memory.
The Portland brood’s debut gives us 35 minutes of undisputed anger which leaves our ears ringing long after Emma Boster’s last scream. The multi-faceted tableau of contempt sprawls across 11 punk infused tracks which make no apologies for being pissed.
“Your demons don’t lie and neither do mine” Boster yells over metal chug and the hardcore double kick of ‘Cowards Feed, Cowards Bleed’. Expressing frustration towards the titular cowardice, each strike within the thick riffs spit venom to eat away at the flesh of any lily-liver.
Rage can spark from many places; ‘Hollowed By Affliction’’s initial soundscape may sound angry and the filth of the interlude swings like a decent right hook. Much like the melodic riffs which lace this, however, this is an ode of desperate sadness. Tackling the difficult subject of self-harm, pockets of screeching guitars set us on the edge of the razorblade. The discomfort continues further still as we’re left on ruminations of “eradicate my soul”.
Dying Wish have no qualms in facing the darker nature of humanity and the world we inhabit. “I cannot escape this torment granted by the hand of a coward” may come from ‘Severing The Senses’’ brutal tale of abuse, but it’s also applicable to the vengeful ‘Now You’ll Rot’. A visceral assault against America’s recent and wide stretching reports of police brutality, these “patterns of violence” are by no means a pleasant listen. The groove sitting in the guitars read like batons on riot shields. While this is impactful in itself, the spacious riffs of the chorus ooze displeasure.
Fragments Of A Bitter Memory leaves a bitter taste in our mouths as it rightly addresses many issues which have gone on for far too long. This orchestration of rage and discomfort may be rough around the edges, but no fight against the status quo is ever perfect. Dying Wish may be joining the horde of resentment, but they are quickly shaping up to be the leaders who lead from the front.