Formed in 2004 in Nagoya, lynch. have been a major force on the Japanese metal scene, releasing a string of critically-acclaimed albums that have found them beating a path into the Western consciousness. After a brief hiatus, the band returned with a triumphant gig at the legendary Nippon Budokan and the aptly-titled Reborn record. Continuing the band’s meteoric rise FIERCE is a five track EP that’s darkly dynamic and should only elevate the bands standing in the metalverse.
Attesting to a restless spirit and a sense of urgency, lynch. have no time to waste on fancy preliminaries or elongated introductions; there’s just a brief blast of feedback and then the band arrive with all guns blazing to deliver a deft shot of metalcore in the shape of ‘UN DEUX TROIS’. Like some strange android creation, lynch. are at once mechanical and organic; the beats are delivered with precision and pump like pistons, yet HAZUKI’s vocals have an earthy nature, an elastic quality that’s wonderfully pliable and becomes an instrument in itself, entwining the instrumentation and unravelling through the song as if a viper peeling from its coil. It’s a neat tension of opposites that works rather well, with each acting as a foil to highlight and contrast the other and will echo throughout FIERCE.
‘UN DEUX TROIS’ packs a lot into it’s three minutes but it never feels cluttered, but there’s always a feeling of urgency bubbling beneath, and it’s heightened by the lack of space between the opening track and ‘EXCENTRIC’, with the two conspiring to make the perfect one-two punch; a jab and an uppercut that’ll floor even the most hardy metalhead. It is to lynch.’s credit that they sound like no one but themselves and while you can hear a touch of Pantera (especially in their hefty groove), theirs is a refreshingly original sound that knows no boundaries. ‘A FIERCE BLAZE’ is an incendiary rocker and you can almost see it igniting mosh pits and when those guitars drop, comes tailor made for stage dives and windmill kicks.
With a touch of gothic splendour ‘REMAINS’ is ethereal and atmospheric, and glistens like icicles in winter sun. Yet, its fresh snow feel is juxtaposed with a dirty bass rumble and the two combine for an interesting dichotomy. Progressive in nature, ‘REMAINS’ is a song of several suites that revolves and evolves towards a haunting conclusion, and it is haunting and will follow you around like a friendly spectre long after the song fades into the ether.
My only real complaint with FIERCE is that at just five tracks and eighteen minutes it’s too darn short, but true to the old adage it certainly leaves you hungry for more. And while lynch. have a rich and varied history, FIERCE signposts a bright future.
- FIERCE is released via JPU Records on 26th June 2024 and is available here.
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Track List:
1. UN DEUX TROIS
2. EXCENTRIC
3. 斑 (MADARA)
4. A FIERCE BLAZE
5. REMAINS
