I Choose Violence are back with their third EP, their second EP in as many years, named An Enemy To Life Itself, a brutal assault on the aural array by the South Australian metalcore monolith.
Five songs sanctifying my satisfaction of savagery and sonic strength.
The first three songs have guest artists sharing the vocal load. The first song, the title track, “An Enemy To Life Itself”, is a crushing opener featuring Adelaide band Theurgy. A take no prisoners opener that leaves hell itself in its wake.
Grinding from start to finish, “An Enemy To Life Itself” is the perfect title to describe thoughts of self doubt and suicide. When your own mind is an enemy to life itself, there is no escape, only surrender.
That’s where my brain goes when I hear this song, and I’m sure there are tens of thousands, if not millions, of people who suffer from these unrelenting thoughts.
They are an enemy to life itself.
That’s not just me, right?
“Ashes Of War” is played alongside another SA band, Chapel Hill. A haunting opening sequence of bass and drums broadens to a heavy hitting hammer of a track.
Growls and screams reflect what I imagine you would hear a lot of on the battlefield. Cries from the wounded, gurgles from the dead. Screams from those who are sent to fight in other people’s wars while profits for petroleum products, usually, are raked in by the rich.
Profit over people.
That’s what war mostly boils down to.
The overtone of trudging your way to your own “deathtination”, no I don’t have a lisp, death and destination, is the overall sense of the song, heavy hitting and haunting.
“Competitive Grief”, featuring Brandan Schieppati of Bleeding Through, is the third track and probably my personal favourite on the EP.
With a bit more melody, faster and shorter than the first couple of songs, “Competitive Grief” just seemed to grab me by the balls and yank them hard and low.
Coming in at just under three minutes, it slaps you in the face and wakes you the fuck up, a wonderful demonstration of just how good SA metal truly is.
Chef’s kiss!
The penultimate track on An Enemy To Life Itself, “Sufference”, opens even more hauntingly than the last song. Piano plays a tune in the pouring rain before the drums and guitar kick in to take this instrumental to the next level.
A grinding cacophony of abrasion sets up the final song on the EP, “Sanguine (Re)Dirge”.
And just like that, we reach the end of the EP.
I am of the thought that the end of an album or EP is just as important as the first. It’s got to leave you wanting more, and “Sanguine (Re)Dirge” definitely fits into that category.
Like “Competitive Grief”, it’s fast, melodic and fierce.
Rory Amoy, behind the kit, nice one mate. Fucking stellar job.
In fact, everyone give yourselves a golf clap, because An Enemy To Life Itself is exactly the opposite to its name.
It is the bringer of life and love of metal.
Everything I look for in a great metal album, no matter the genre, is on this EP. Michael, Jake, Cameron, Dylan and Rory, as well as the guest vocalists Sid, Louie, Harry and Brandan, executed this EP with exceptional vision and unrivalled majesty.
I’m sure that pretty soon a full length album is right around the corner, but for now, feast on the metal meal in front of you.
Your dessert will come soon enough.
Band Members
Michael Boakes, vocals and composer
Jake Schultz, guitar
Cameron Bailey, guitar and backup vocals
Dylan Ransom, bass
Jean Michael Herradura, drums live
Rory Amoy, recorded drums on War Of The Damned and An Enemy To Life Itself
Guest Spots
Sidney Paech, vocals on “Dragged Across Concrete”, Ecdysis
Louie Workman, vocals on “An Enemy To Life Itself”, Theurgy
Harry Dunn, vocals on “Ashes Of War”, Chapel Hill
Brandan Schieppati, vocals on “Competitive Grief”, Bleeding Through
Links
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4tMY7q6ozQgK94LGQm8liP?si=EUyjIbSyT1KdkQY29xr9hQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IChooseViolence_Official
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ichooseviolence_official/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICHOOSEVIOLENCEOFFICIAL/
