Averted – Silenced

It’s been a while since I jammed some good, catchy and impactful metalcore, but thanks to Averted, that problem was just addressed. Hailing from the U.K., the band recently released their debut EP “Silenced“. It may not be a long listen but with the energy levels it releases, it really doesn’t have to be. The 6 tracks are all catchy, bombastic, proggy and technical enough to keep my inner nerd satisfied.

The sound on this EP is very modern, slightly electronic, and lands straight down the middle between djent and metalcore. There’s a ton of fuzz on the guitars, which I bet have many strings, allowing the chugs to get indecently low. So, it can get quite nasty, but the clean sound and clever composition keeps it on track and maintains the dynamic feel all the way through. The riffs and drum patterns are very heavy but also agile and groovy, maintaining a swift and energizing pace. Drums are mainly aimed to bang your head but the double kicks and furious transitions bring their fair share of technicality. The bass work follows the guitars, but what’s exciting is that it won’t only follow the main riff. At times it will cling to the melodies and momentary leads, drawing the attention its way and giving more depth to the fast guitar runs. So, there’s plenty of underlying technicality and complexity going on in the background, concealed under a groovy, inviting pace and some infectious melodies that hook the listener from the first listen. That kind of balance between techy and catchy elements always gets to me.

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The attitude that comes through is very satisfying as well. The songs have a dark, somber atmosphere with an uplifting undertone, sounding a bit like a struggle. Contrasting elements collide giving a strong sense of duality, like low riffs against flashy melodies, impactful drum patterns against brief atmospheric breaks, and clean against harsh vocals. Vocalist Syhem Angel delivers some fairly convincing mid-range screams with a lot of power but it’s the epic, catchy and melodic choruses that allow her to express the strongest emotions. She brings a kind of liberating, cathartic energy that helps purge your emotional turmoil and get some empowering vibes instead.

Pack everything together and the result is a very convincing debut that uses both formulas and unexpected creativity. It’s based on contrasts, impact and instant serotonin, so if metalcore is a style you’re used to, do yourself the favour of checking this one out. This band is all about the hype.

Track List:

1. The Plea (04:29)
2. Silenced (04:31)
3. Vaecordia (03:52)
4. The Curse (04:58)
5. Sacrifice (03:47)
6. Absolution (03:42)