On June 19th, Make Them Suffer, a band from Australia released How To Survive A Funeral, via Rise Records.
The album has all the components to a great metalcore record, and is arguably one of the best releases into that genre this year so far. So, let’s break down a few songs.
“Step One” opens up the record with a slow build up. The guitar comes in, and then about halfway through singer Sean Harmanis belts “Speak from your heart”. The song (and the rest of the album) pick up from there. The perfect opener to their fourth release, and lets the listener know that the forthcoming songs are no joke. They are here to rock.
“Bones” is heavy all around. The guitar, the drums, and the vocals. Sometimes there is a problem that some hardcore bands encounter on some tracks, where each instrument is competing with one another. That is not the case here. It does sound a bit chaotic, but in a good way. Harmanis also screams the lyrics very clearly. Being easy to understand is a huge plus.
“Erase Me” was the first single released ahead of this album. Opening with Booka Nile on the keyboard, followed up by loud, fast drumming by Jordan Mather. Harmanis yells next in the symphony, and the song picks up from there. This song features some of NIle’s vocals as well, which adds a softness to a super heavy song. It’s a nice change of pace, and a little bit of fresh air.
“Fake Your Own Death” is probably the HEAVIEST song on the record. It’s loud, it’s in your face, but it absolutely goes hard. The drums are what to focus on here. Mather pounds the life out of those things. You are going to hear this song, and want to jump around your bedroom and mosh.
Conversely, “The Attendant” is the softest song in the track list. Barely any screaming, lots of keys and drumming. It’s a very moving instrumental. It’s weirdly soothing in a way, and shows the wide range that the band can accomplish.
Lastly, (and out of order), “How To Survive a Funeral” is the title track of the record. It tells the story of someone watching their own funeral from the other side. A heavy topic for a heavy song. The guitar in the song is amazing, the breakdown is awesome, and Harmanis’s vocals are definitely the focal point. Nile’s lyrics and singing cuts through some of the heaviness, and it all pairs together for an amazing track.
How To Survive a Funeral is a beautiful album. It goes hard, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a new, heavy hardcore album to listen to on repeat. It’s perfect or lounging around, going on a run, or cleaning the house. Be sure to add it to your playlists!
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