Creature - Haunt

Following two EPs in 2019, Birmingham hardcore trio Creature have returned with ten minutes of aural assault to deliver Haunt. With stark lyricism dealing with austerity, complicity, and the state of the nation, the band accompanies this with filthy, to-the-point, in-your-face metallic hardcore. It's not for the faint-hearted, nor is it meant to be.

All four songs whizz by in less than three minutes each, though there's a lot going on in a short time. Musically, it's a really interesting listen, with unconventional structures and off-time rhythms for starters. Each member has time to shine; take the interesting bass work in the 'Grey Ghosts' chorus, or the sludgy guitar bends around the halfway mark of 'All', the dynamic drum performance over 'Creeping', just to name a few moments. 'Lines' starts off math-y and frenetic before unexpectedly launching into some of the catchiest vocal hooks across the whole EP. 

It's a huge musical statement. The songs come across very directly and with as much subtlety as a bag of bricks to the head, but beneath the surface there's plenty to suggest a highly meticulous approach to the songcrafting over Haunt. It makes the listener want to come back to the EP again and again. There are bands out there that do far less in the same amount of time, with less impact and less memorability.

The vocal performance is ridden with bile and fire throughout - and with the lyrical themes and musical intensity, that's the only way it could be. Yet there's still a positive, compassionate, redemptive side to James Thompson's message, most notably over the sludgy 'Grey Ghosts'. With an extra dimension to his perspective, Creature again elevate themselves from just being another angry hardcore band. For all the rage that makes Creature who they are, to label them that would be reductive.

Top notch all round. The EP release show is on July 1st (next weekend) at The Flapper and they'll be joined by Non-Lin, Grief Ritual, Johanna Rey and Fangs Out. Not to be missed!

8.5/10

Haunt was released on June 10th via Grey Ghost Records

Creature website | Facebook | Instagram

MN

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