EP Review: Chaos Reigns – Sweet Violence (Self Released)

London-based hardcore punks Chaos Reigns will release their brand-new EP, ‘Sweet Violence’ on November 30th, 2024. The six track EP tackles some of the darkest and most raw aspects of the human experience, confronting themes of love, death, murder, obsession, greed, mental health, suicide, and addiction, and offers a brutally honest reflection on the fine line between pain and pleasure, life and death.

It’s not just the themes around Sweet Violence that are about the contradictions in life, there are contradictions in the music as Chaos Reigns cleverly express vitriolic heaviness and speed while also showcasing fragility and beauty in interesting ways. Yes, it’s carnage for the most part, but with layers upon layers of creative differences to the hardcore punk formula, it leaves such an impression.

An impression that arrives with aplomb as opener False Gods creates a myriad of feelings through a combination of undeniable savagery, curious melodies, and anthemic groove. Everyone listening will be compelled to shout the words ‘wash them away’. Then there’s Graveyard Shift, a love story for deep, dark, and dank pits. Before the title track brings some of the most manic moments to the forefront, alongside some of the wackiest too. If there’s one track you should check out to understand the dichotomy of this EP, it’s this one.

Of course, there’s still plenty of creativity on show with the latter part of the EP too and Snakes & Branches continues to raise the hardcore punk bar. Then along comes Sins of Success’ heaviness to add some gurning pleasure to the pain of Chaos Reigns’ intense stance. Before the EP wraps up with the passionate outpouring of The Lotus King, which features Mallory Knox vocalist Mike Chapman and sees the band push their creativity to even greater heights.

It, like everything on this release, leaves a deep impression, but as far as contradictions go, all will be in agreement that Chaos Reigns have dropped a bit of a banger here.

Chaos Reigns – Sweet Violence Track Listing:

1. False Gods
2. Graveyard Shift
3. Violet Delights
4. Snakes & Branches
5. Sins of Success
6. The Lotus King (Ft. Mike Chapman)

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