Album/EP

Jesus Piece - ...So Unknown (Album Review)

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Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Apr 16, 2023

7 min read

Jesus Piece - …So UnknownReleased: April 14, 2023

Line Up:

Aaron Heard // VocalsDavid Updike // GuitarsJohn Distefano // GuitarsAnthony Marinaro // Bass/VocalsLuis Aponte // Drums

Jesus Piece online:

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With a sound as hard and aggressive as the city they were born in, Philadelphia five piece Jesus Piece are one of the finest and most intense metallic-hardcore acts of this current generation. Five years after their enormous debut full length Only Self, the quintet have finally dropped their hotly anticipated sophomore …So Unknown. Without giving away any spoilers, their second LP might be the most vein-popping, crowd-killing-ist release of 2023.

The straight to the throat opener 'In Constrains' is a clear statement of intent for the next half an hour to come. Breathless and violent, it’s a 140 second blitzkrieg that moves effortlessly into the death metal-leaning 'Fear of Failure'. The song’s tremolo-picked intro quickly gets tilted on it’s side with a killer, pit-moving groove. Preview singles 'Silver Lining' and 'Gates of Horn', which inhabit the record’s middle section, are amongst the best material the band has composed to date, both absolutely flattening yet with countless earworms and heavy hooks. Frontman Aaron Heard continues his reputation as having one of the fiercest roars in the game, with bassist Anthony Marinaro increased vocal presence further bolstering the attack.

https://youtu.be/AjkagOGYvIY

Sitting under the 28 minute mark, ...So Unknown has any unnecessary moments stripped back, yet the dynamic elements are still there, creating extra mood and helping tie the collection of songs into a proper album. The drawn out ending of 'Fear of Failure' that melds perfectly into high spot 'Tunnel Vision', while the building intro of later highlight 'Stolen Life' tensely pulls in the listener. One of the heaviest tracks on the record, the verses are absolutely suffocating, with crushing rhythms hammering down without quarter - plus the drum break in the middle is too good.

Randy Lebouf’s mix is strong and not over-produced, giving ...So Unknown a raw, powerful edge, yet with room for the experimental elements to shine through. Translating the power of a live hardcore show onto record is not easy at all, yet Lebouf and Jesus Piece manage to capture this magic. There are so many meteoric grooves across the album, yet each is distinct in their own oft-kilter way, grabbing the ear of even the most well-worn metalcore/hardcore enthusiast. The tempo is almost fluid at times, with Jesus Piece constantly pulling the pace back a touch to deliver the heaviest material possible. 'Profane' is maybe the least impressive tune on the release, while 'FTBS' main hook is a little underwhelming, though probably a lot more powerful in the live setting, and it’s huge outro makes the song. Album closer 'The Bond' rightly has the best ending passage, with charging drums and feed backing guitars being barrelled over by a breakdown that has destruction written all over it.

Unbridled passion in its purest form, possibly the highest praise that can be directed toward Jesus Piece’s second LP is that despite the energy rarely waning, the songs each have their own soul and identity - this isn’t a blur of 10 same-y tunes. It’s obvious that the group has put the time into creating the best arrangements that they can. Jesus Piece, though nearly half a decade between releases, have not lost an ounce of power or momentum. Though the heavy music underground continues to churn and move, they've returned with even more steam and power behind them. Without a shadow of a doubt ...So Unknown firmly cements Jesus Piece's status as one of the leaders in the metallic hardcore world.