I AM PARIAH – Charm Before the Storm
- Posted on 10-10-2020
There was something evocative and cool about the name of the band, the title of this short 3-track EP, and the cover artwork itself that instantly appealed to me when I spotted this release in my mailbox, and so obviously, I simply had to check it out. While the accompanying promotion text suggests that this skilled UK outfit ought to appeal to fans of acts ala Avenged Sevenfold and Killswitch Engage, I Am Pariah is something else entirely and comes across as a much more exciting and experimental musical cocktail than the two well-known entities mentioned before – at least to these ears. These talented dudes display a knack for writing strong, muscular riffs with interesting twists to them, but their song arrangements are arguably the most alluring aspect of this well-crafted release and I dig the way in which certain passages throw you for a loop while neither disrupting the flow of the compositions nor ruining the momentum of it all. I Am Pariah make it sound quite effortless, which is perhaps the most impressive thing about “Charm Before the Storm”.
“Charm Before the Storm” is clever but catchy, and if you are on the lookout for atmosphere, great melodies, a solid dose of aggression, and a subtle hint of melancholy, this hard-hitting little gem is worth looking into and examining in more detail. A good and noteworthy example of how to write adventurous, dynamic, and explosive music inspired and influenced by metalcore as well as many other styles and genres out there. Wicked stuff!