JUST ANOTHER DAY - EP1 - EP REVIEW
- Kaylah Chilcott
- May 1
- 3 min read
‘EP1’ by Just Another Day dropped on the 29th of March, an ode to 80s heavy metal - and it goes hard.
Just Another Day was created by Ben Ackerman, in Melbourne, from a love of making music and a passion for heavy metal. Ackerman is a solo musician - this guy is behind all the writing of the music and played every single instrument. This put an entirely different lens on an already great EP.
Just Another Day have sighted THEIR influences as including Filter and Testament - and the 80s thrash really does bleed into the sound. It sort of reminds me of Mutoid Man with Ackerman’s classic heavy metal vocals, which I find are reminiscent of Stephen Brodsky’s! This style certainly sets them apart from some of the other sounds we are hearing out of our Aussie music scene at the moment.
'EP1' opens with ‘This Fear’, which immediately demonstrates the incredible musicianship that went into creating the EP. It’s fast and loud. I think it was a smart move to put the best guitar solo in the first song. Note, this doesn’t take away from the other tracks, but grabs your attention in a way that drags you into the rest of the songs.
‘Walk Away’ was empowering with its lyrics like “I am the one who had to walk away from you”, something that I think all of us relate to. The chorus deviates from the rest of the song and EP, the guitars part in a way that creates space for the vocals to shine through, with a little riff at the end and of course it has a sick solo at the bridge! The chorus comes back in a different tone for the outro, making sure to get stuck in your head for later.
‘The End’ was another track that I found myself thinking about after listening through - I am a massive sucker for songs opening with a bass riff to die for. I also think this track is the stand out on the album, the chorus was easily the catchiest and closed out on a tough riff back into the verse.
ORIGINALLY RELEASED AS A SINGLE, The EP punctuates with ‘All The Things’, a song of lies and vengeance you’ll relate to. Ackerman’s vocals bestow an epic effect that elevate the whole sound, and the guitars are so bouncy it turns into an upbeat jam!
'EP1' isn’t a super busy release, their use of effects and samples are tasteful and don’t overpower the sound. It creates space for appreciation of the instruments they build an atmosphere of their own. The four track EP has the perfect blend of highs and lows, with punchy guitars accentuating the bass backing, onto a super wide soundstage framed by the drums. The instruments and vocals tie everything together into a tough sound that makes you feel powerful when you listen to it. The riffs have enough groove to them to get down and dance to, and enough grit to pump iron at the gym to it as well.
'EP1' is an expression of love and a journey through passion that Just Another Day wants fans to experience!
YOU CAN FIND THEM AND LISTEN TO 'EP1' THROUGH THE LINKS BELOW!
