I cut my teeth on metalcore. During these tender teen years, I witnessed its growing djentification and I liked most of what I heard (sorry). I did, however, bemoan the inevitable slide towards radio rock of my former favorites such as Bring Me The Horizon and Architects. In fact, my loss of these bands from rotation was a significant impetus for my branching out into more extreme flavors of metal. But even though I’ve largely left it behind, I’ve got a soft spot for metalcore that arises most often during a workout, driven by a desire to recreate my first feelings of exhilaration in the emotional melodicism and angst. Creak stood out, not only as an opportunity to indulge, but because they appeared devoid of the glossy self-indulgence that adorns some modern metalcore, and that is responsible for the unfair caricature the genre has earned in the metal sphere. Learning that it was also produced, mixed, and mastered by Connor Sweeney (ex-guitarist of Loathe, another former favorite) sealed the deal. But could Depth Perception scratch that itch?
Largely, yes, as Creak play a hardcore-forward style of metalcore, with a soft lean towards understated electronica, which feels both novel and familiar. At the two ends of the spectrum, the cutting barks and downtuned romp of the dissonant hardcore recalls Knocked Loose, while the faded ambience and eerie metallic melodies channel—as it happens—Loathe. In between, there’s a little Alpha Wolf on the meaner end, and a little Northlane on the more melodic end (“Restless Dreams”). The group execute these various facets well, whether they’re keeping them separate—the vicious “Hare in the Woods,” versus the atmospheric, clean-sung “Left to Heaven,” for instance—or combining them (“Restless Dreams,” “Cold Shoulder,” among others). Arguably, it’s the latter path on which Creak are the most arresting, either as harmonious echoes and mournful riffing provide a solid emotional backdrop to the screams, or as rough feedback and harsh screeching warps guitars and vocals alike. Regardless of the direction the mixture takes them in, a raw vulnerability remains present, and in light of these, the more overtly angry or apathetic tracks hit almost as hard, as the unfiltered rage or ennui.
Depth Perception is heavily influenced by vocalist Jack Dunn’s experience of his mother’s cancer battle. It therefore carries the burden of all the anger and anguish, and the need to successfully channel it. Creak achieve this by—as above alluded—blending the chilling electronica with ruthless heaviness. The spooky, urgent whine behind “Doomed,” the chilling, muffled atmosphere cutting into “Harrow,” and the chaotically-dissonant jabs of “The Early Hours Know My Secret” ramp up the tension and the anxiety, their subtle mournfulness emphasizing desperation. Not to mention the fantastic, panicky descending riffs that pop up everywhere (“Crossroads,” “Harrow,” “A Head Full of Rain”). The savage hardcore vocals contrast perfectly with the sorrowful, faded cleans for a spectrum of expressiveness, and it’s here that the group remind me most of Loathe (“Doomed,” “Harrow”). The cleans come into their own on delicately melancholic “Left to Heaven,” which softly communicates sadness and dejection with beautiful apathy; and late-album highlight “Cold Shoulder,” whose catchy minor chorus always has me singing along, and whose urgent, synth-ringing energy pitch-perfectly expresses its pain
Despite its ability to cut deep at its best moments, Depth Perception doesn’t overall make as strong an impression as its parts suggest it ought to. One possible reason is odd arrangements, most notably, the decision to insert short electronic interlude “An Endless Black” after only two songs. It destroys the momentum gained by album-opening ragers “Crossroads” and “Hare in the Woods,” and as it continues into “Doomed,” it seems unnecessary. At a brisk thirty-eight minutes, there’s plenty of energy and groove to carry you quickly through, but things might be improved with fewer, slightly longer songs, rather than twelve, some of which don’t even grace the three-minute mark. This all being said, the album is still sufficiently bold to keep you engaged at any specific moment, with melancholic gravity (“Harrow,” “Cold Shoulder,”) or crushing beatdowns and breakdowns (“Hare…,” “A Head…”) snapping you to attention.
Creak deliver on what they promise and more. Perfect to headbang, lift, and generally feel angst to, Depth Perception’s haunting electronic tendencies grant poignancy to its muscularity. It’s not spectacular, but it is good, and it’s just the beginning for this young band who look set to make some significant waves in the scene.
Rating: Good
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Prosthetic Records
Websites creakofficial.bandcamp.com| facebook.com/creakofficial
Releases Worldwide: August 18th, 2023
