EP: Broken // ARTIST: Liberties
Novacastrian heavies Liberties smash down their demons and pump up the hardcore with their brand new EP 'Broken' due out this Friday.
Blasting to life in 2016 with a musical dream and a self-described "crappy demo", Liberties have since tirelessly shared their booming energy on the live circuit, racking up shows alongside the likes of Awaken I Am, The Beautiful Monument, Slaves and beyond in a short space of time. But while the burgeoning success on paper for this Newcastle quartet would seemingly give way to celebratory sentiments, their new EP 'Broken' instead embodies personal and political frustration that manifests hungrily across five tracks.
Ahead of the EP release, Liberties axe-kween Amy McIntosh (who also pulls double duties on guitar for The Beautiful Monument) explained that 'Broken' "...is about our society - how the average person in told one thing while those in power are doing something completely opposite. I wanted to write something that shows what we have witnessed as a world economy over the last odd decade and ask the question, it this really what we are happy to let continue?". And it's certainly these sentiments that permeate, kicking off in abrasive style with 'The Cutting Floor' - a textbook hardcore jaunt that busts out down-tuned riffs, growling vocals, staccato breakdowns and a thick wall of sound.
While the overall EP regularly flits between its hardcore and heavy rock overtones, there's a logical progression from more rollicking boppers ('524') to war-cry boomers ('Are You Ok'), with the ever-present assortment of bellowing bass, howling vox and chunky textures twisting their way through the mix.
'CROOKED STATES' (LIBERTIES)
Lead single 'Crooked States' lands as a highlight in the second half of the EP, delivering a fireball of lyrical frustration wrapped up in a deep, grooving maelstrom. But just when you think you've heard all the tricks up the collective Liberties sleeves, the title track dives into the EP's most frantic moments yet, breathlessly hurtling you into a world of non-stop spinning riffs, relentless rhythmics and impassioned vocals that will get you riled up and screaming your grievances into the night before coming to a cathartic conclusion.
In short, 'Broken' is a fiery turn for this heavy foursome that blisters and bellows without losing its melodic feet. Whether a result of some hibernation for the group in 2018 or just some good old-fashioned dissatisfaction with the world, Liberties have released themselves fully into a confident and complete end result.
'BROKEN' WILL UNLEASH THIS FRIDAY 5TH APRIL, PRE-ORDERS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.
FOR ALL OTHER LIBERTIES INFO, HEAD HERE.
BY TIANA SPETER