Scott Middlin- 'A TASTE OF CHAOS' EP REVIEW
- Tia Babatzikos
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
'A TASTE OF CHAOS' is the latest chapter in Scott Middlin’s discography, demonstrating some of his heaviest and most self-assured music yet.
Scott Middlin is a solo Australian artist previously known for his involvement with bands including Emecia, Emerald City, and Against the Atlantic. He has also published a book and works as a tattoo artist, which makes him just that much cooler.
'A TASTE OF CHAOS' seamlessly blends the sounds of modern metalcore, alternative rock, and digital hardcore with a touch of midwest-emo added to the mix to create a sound that is chaotic yet well-crafted.
Thematically leaning “into clarity, growth, and personal reclamation”, each track weaves a story of strength after heartbreak and the aftermath of an abusive toxic relationship. Strength through survival is a key theme through this EP, as Scott himself is a cancer survivor, adding personal layers and depth to the introspections made throughout each song.
The opening track ‘TØX1C.SAV1ØUR’ is unapologetically heavy and holds absolutely nothing back. Scathing and biting lyrics give this song a total edge, and really sets up the underlying themes and sonic tone for the rest of the EP. Scott’s rage can really be felt through lines like:
“So nice to see the world
Chew you up and spit out
I hope you fucking burn
I wouldn't stop to piss to put you out”
'CØRPS3.FLØW3R', my favourite track from A TASTE OF CHAOS, is the next song in the tracklist. An almost lilting melody haunts this track, making it borderline hypnotic and intoxicating which ties in really effectively with the song’s themes and lyrics. I also loved the duality between Scott’s vocals in this one, going between guttural breakdowns and abrasive spoken lines to layered melodic hooks overlapping in the chorus.
The tone shifts with '1N.TH3.WAKΞ', a song that “captures the quiet aftermath of emotional
upheaval”. This track uses a more spacious and atmospheric sound compared to the other songs, still carrying the same heaviness, but with the use of more flowing and vulnerable vocals. Scott’s self-assuredness stays consistent through this song, with lines like “I won't destroy myself to make you feel complete”.
The chaos picks back up towards the end of the EP, with crushing riffs, pummelling drums and multitudes of breakdowns. The last track 'S3ЯPENT1N3' is the perfect send off to listeners.
This song starts off really heavy and ferocious, and then around halfway through takes an unexpected turn with atmospheric gentle guitars and melodic vocals. The final breakdown here is grinding, sludgey and vicious, making it a satisfying conclusion and wrapping everything up into a moment of power.
Overall, I really enjoyed listening to 'A TASTE OF CHAOS' in its entirety and thought that the imagery and lyricism really helped amplify the overall sonic vibe of the EP. If your a Fan of Metalcore bands like Bad Omens, Make Them Suffer and LANDMVRKS, you will definitely want to chuck this one a listen!
