Pincer+ – Hunting God Tapes. Vol 2: Romance (EP Review)
Pincer+ – Hunting God Tapes. Vol 2: RomanceReleased: 24th of NovemberLineupJacson Rob // VocalsJosh Ang // GuitarJordan Burn// GuitarJack Nelson // DrumsBen Ferguson// BassOnlineFacebookInstagramWebsiteAs somebody who constantly saw the name Pincer+ in the context of them playing the Perth leg of shows that many other bands couldn’t make the trek out to the western side of our country for, I was very much intrigued. Imagine my surprise when I finally got around to listening to the Hunting God Tapes. Vol 1: Violence and put it mentally near the top of my list of the best Australian releases in 2022.So when they announced the follow-up, Hunting God Tapes. Vol 2: Romance, I was chomping at the bit to get my filthy hands on it. It is always a challenge to follow up on such an incredible release, especially when it is your debut, but I am confident in declaring not only have they backed up, but they have also exceeded. Let’s jump into it.Kicking us straight in the gut is the opening track, ‘Heart of Glass’. There is no doubt that Pincer+ is a hardcore band that does not relent on their heavy side, but they are always keeping the riffs catchy. The almost muffled vocals add to the roughness of the sound, keeping it in line with that authentic underground feel. The fact it was recorded and produced in-house is a true testament to the abilities of this band beyond their songwriting. The mix remains rugged and raw, but also somehow is incredibly well-produced.
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Many bands strive to find the balance between raw and cleanliness, but never quite get there. Pincer+ does and it is a masterclass. As innovative as they are, they do not give in to the temptation to make elements like the breakdowns complex and honestly, you do not want them to.‘Closer To God’ was our first preview of this EP and I think it may be fair to say, a lot of us are incredibly familiar with it by this point. I know I am- it’s been on repeat since it dropped! The sound of violence on this offering punches you in the ear through the form of blastbeats through this track’s opening minute. Pain drips off the guitars and entwines itself into the vocals. The cleans add an extra dynamic, layering the emotions that come from the pain of lost love.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqPIm37zwZwThere is an almost Blade Runner-esque/cyberpunk vibe to some of the elements littered through this EP, especially over ‘Vision of Angels’. The digital layers over the bordering-on power violence hardcore, it’s like the sound of your brain being taken offline after getting spin kicked in the face. The start is heading towards being a pure beatdown track, building itself into a fast and catchy verse, the type of verse that gets a room moving. The mosh call before the breakdown is a warning before the song throws itself headfirst into a brutal breakdown that pulls apart into a sea of feedback, bringing the track back into line.‘Self-Received Halo’ again shows me why I am so excited about this band. Incredible on the record, but I can only imagine how hard this track will go live. The standout to me on this track is the drums. Stripping back all the layers of sound, the fills, the small cymbal hits just add those details that hit the ear right. The breakdown at the end flows so nicely into ‘Romance (I Don’t Want To See Anymore)’, that you can almost envisage that transition in a live set.As mentioned earlier, there is a real personal venom soaking through the vocals. The anger and pain of heartache, alongside that intensity of emotion comes through most clearly in ‘Romance (I Don’t Want To See Anymore)’. Furious, gut-wrenching- it truly captures the complexity and insanity that can envelop us when we are suffering in love. A shorter track, it doesn’t waste time through any moment of the song. Breakdowns are heavy, the guitars maintain melody without losing speed and the rhythm section is punchy. There is almost an ode to the origins of Australian metalcore/hardcore in the delivery, but it still sounds fresh.
Speaking of freshness, the feature from Apex Afi on ‘Stuck On The Ceiling’ is a nice touch. Sending off the EP in an innovative fashion, the blurring of genre lines has allowed artists to spread their wings outside of what is expected of them. There is a grittiness to this outro that allows you to process what you have heard.I have been sitting with this EP for a while now, coming back to it every single day to ensure that I do not miss a moment. As a reviewer, you are encouraged to find fault, and employ some constructive criticism- but with every listen I have fallen more in love with this release. It is very sneaky to drop something so good right at the end of the year, but it was worth the wait. Unless something equally as good releases between now and December 31st, Hunting God Tapes. Vol 2: Romance is my favourite EP release of 2023.Do not sleep on Pincer+.
Pincer+ - Hunting God Tapes. Vol 2: Romance tracklisting1. Heart Of Glass2. Closer To God3. Visions Of Angels4. Self Received Halo5. Romance (I Don't Want To See Anymore)6. Stuck In The Ceiling (Feat. Apex Afi)Rating 10/10Hunting God Tapes. Vol 2: Romance is out November 24th via Greyscale Records. Pre-Order/Save here.Review by Kayla Hamilton@kaylazomboidhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwVAEHK70HI
