EP Review: Fomented - Bitter And Miserable Beings
Reviewed by Sam Jones
Fomented are new. So new that upon the release of this first EP, Fomented will have only officially existed for just more than a month. Created in mind for fans of Knocked Loose and Lamb Of God, Fomented style themselves as a hardcore outfit built right from the ground up. Formed by Kieran Scott, out of the West Midlands, UK, of Deathcollector renown, it appears that Scott is looking to stamp his impact upon a metal style a complete one-eighty degrees to what brought him and Deathcollector to Bloodstock last year. Upon a teasing listen I was happily enticed to check out the full EP if able, thankfully we now have that opportunity. Bitter And Miserable Beings is due out March 7th.
Fomented’s approach to production is one whereby the walls of their record aren’t hemming us so tightly in that you can’t appreciate the full scope of their sound. The riffs and vocals come at you with explosive force but it’s not so total that you can’t appreciate or take in thoroughly the breadth of their experience. Rather than subject us to a punishing soundscape as hardcore bands are wont to do at times, Fomented instead take a step back and give us the necessary room to absorb the fury and frustration embedded within their performance, especially when one considers the political and social commentary the band wrap their lyrical content with too. But the best feature the production benefit if you ask me are the drums, for when the tempo climbs, and the malice grows, Fomented’s drumming adopts a bouncing quality where you feel the drumsticks rebound cleanly off the taut skin and since the band have stepped back a touch from us it gives the drumming the maximum impact since there feels to be plenty of room between us and the song.
Though Fomented possess hardcore elements within their songwriting and guitar tone, I like how they haven’t doubled down so heavily on it. For those who perhaps aren’t too keen on hardcore-infused metal Fomented offer a genuine opportunity to experience something they can get behind. For the most part, Fomented’s songwriting and attitude feels like conventional heavy metal that has a sprinkling of hardcore elements throughout its identity. The fury is there but so are the grounded riffs, the vocals are coarse and brusque at times yet the delivery is well controlled and speaks volumes towards Scott’s vocal discipline. There are instances where the collective guitar and drum work reaches proportions of scale not regularly seen in hardcore styled bands. You could say this is an EP not merely for Fomented themselves but as a potential gateway into more thoroughly established hardcore sounding bands.
There came a moment during my time with Fomented where I realised just how thick and vast their sound truly was. Hardcore metal can be synonymous with soundscapes that are on the emptier side though propelled forth by the band’s energy and instrumental performances; Fomented however come in like a train at full steam and have little issue running right through us. Their basslines are huge and when given the opportunity they’ll utterly fill every space possible, the band have given no excuse for this EP not to devastate your face. Singular guitar chords command your attention with ease and then you have some of the most ruthless death metal-esque vocals I’ve ever heard thrown into a hardcore styled work. Whilst their EP is only around twenty minutes long Fomented are to it every of those minutes is electric with power, drawing you in, exciting you for future prospects.
In conclusion, Fomented’s debut EP is a striking demonstration of what we could see out of the band, hopefully in the near future. Though Fomented are a band infused with hardcore elements we mustn’t think that they are specifically hardcore; fans of death metal, conventional heavy metal etc will find plenty to discover and enjoy within this EP for its songwriting and track progressions have much to be experienced. Bitter And Miserable Beings is the equivalent of being punched straight in the face before the band relax, breathe in, then put on knuckle dusters for rounds two and three. Arguably the most prominent feature to the band is their attitude for they absolutely separate themselves from the pack near instantly with political and social commentary that is becoming more prevalent and necessary in this day and age. This EP is a great way to start the band who can be found across most social media’s. Check them out, they’re worth it.
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