EP Review: Those Once Loyal - Relentless Cycle
Reviewed by Liam Barlow
Nottingham metalcore/hardcore outfit Those Once Loyal release their eagerly anticipated debut EP 'Relentless Cycle' this coming Friday 20th January.
Blending the 00's metalcore sound with elements of modern hardcore, the boys from the Midlands have experienced great numbers on their previous single releases, and already boast over 10k on the title track of their EP 'Relentless Cycle' on Spotify.
This four track EP begins with 'Into The Cycle' as an intro with its calm and soft guitar work the likes of Malevolence and Trivium would be proud of, before smashing into the title track 'Relentless Cycle'. This song captures their entire style of cross over music epically, combining crushing riffs and Matts huge vocals, which any hardcore band would be lucky to have fronting them, not to mention the beatdown.... It's not hard to visualise yourself in the crowd when the “THE CYCLES RELENTLESS” is screamed out at you.
We move into 'Second Hand Smoke' next, which was released as a music video earlier this month, it was filmed as a collective of live show footage, including when they supported Desolated, last August. This track begins with a guitar hook which just drags you straight in, if you didn’t get this band yet, you do now, especially as the first verse kicks in, the hardcore and metalcore crossovers just keep happening. You think the track is nearing its conclusion and then as you near the end, you get punched in the face, quite literally, by the breakdown.
The EP finishes on a completely new song 'Re-Birth' which continues the mass energy this band has to offer both on recording and in live performance, the early 00’s vibes on this one really do take you back, taking major influence from the likes of As I Lay Dying and Killswitch Engage.
Those Once Loyal head out on a weekend run on the 3-5 Feb, to celebrate the launch of Relentless Cycle, catch them at Nottingham, Derby & London that weekend!
