Repriever- 'Fracture' EP Review

Hailing from the Central Coast of NSW, Repriever are keeping the heart of the metalcore scene alive and beating with their just released EP ‘Fracture’.

This is the band's first EP drop since 2019, and it is a testament to Repriever's sonic and technical development. Flawlessly blending heavy breakdowns with softer, hauntingly melodic moments, this EP is equal parts intense and wistful.

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Named after the Shinto sun goddess, ‘Amaterasu’ is the opening track and sets the tone for the rest of the EP with its grinding brutality.

The riffs in this one are especially delicious, with a digital hardcore quality to them. Lilting guitars float above these heavy moments in the chorus alongside melodic vocals that work to really ascend the song.

'Pax Animi' comes from A Latin phrase meaning “peace of mind”, heaviness and light meet perfectly in the middle within this track.

Melodious vocals entwine with soul-crushing breakdowns to create something that is highly emotional and hard-hitting.

'Shadow Self' demonstrates the lyrical strength of the EP with thought provoking lines such as:

“What have I become? A shadow of my former self, an apparition of my darkest thoughts”.

My favourite track from ‘Fracture’ is ‘Vile’, a cinematic and ethereal song that maintains a heavy flair for the theatrical. ‘Vile’ has a heavy and at times vampiric sound that totally reminded me of Cradle Of Filth, which I absolutely loved!

The final track of the EP is ‘Fire and Forget’, a melancholic song with cathartic breakdowns. High feminine vocals (provided by Monique Pym from Reliqa) contrast beautifully against the harsh screams, with a gentle heartbeat pulsing in the background to really emphasise the themes and mood of this one.

Encapsulating both the despair and rage of heartbreak, ‘Fire and Forget’ is the ultimate ode to the human heart.

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Overall, ‘Fracture’ really blew me away with its complexity and its subtle delicacy. It expresses a range of human emotions and experiences in a nuanced way, perfectly demonstrating the balance and contrast between heaviness and light.

Sonically, each track's atmosphere was perfectly crafted which showed through the use of different sound effects and vocal styles. Through perfectly placed breakdowns and softer orchestral moments, these guys are definitely a force to be reckoned with within the metalcore scene.

If you're a fan of modern metalcore bands like Alpha Wolf & Lorna Shore you should definitely check this one out!

You can listen to ‘Fracture’ in its entirety here!