EP Review: Jawbone – Fracture (Self Released)

Jawbone are a young, modern hardcore influenced band from the UK who have now released their debut EP, Fracture.

With a ton of influences, some more obvious than others, Jawbone are part of a new school of pissed off youngsters spitting barbs and playing as hard and heavy as possible. If there’s one major takeaway from this debut EP, it is that Jawbone are angry.

These feelings within the band are ripped up and shredded, put into a blender with an understanding of what most expect from modern hardcore, enough talent to make it sound important and unmatched intensity.

It’s the latter that really gets your attention on the opening track, Blight. A rumbling and disjointed build gives way to a dirty ‘bleurgh’, which is then followed by a frenzied pace. An opener that has as much in common with deathcore as it does hardcore, there is some impressive rhythm to a track so focused on being wild and heavy. It probably didn’t need the breakdown though… which feels a bit ‘paint by numbers’.

The ‘jungle beat’ at the start and near the end of Hyperbolic Picturesque is going to divide listeners but this is a strong effort with some ass-kicking energy and a top-drawer breakdown. A pit-filler for sure, it’s a short and sharp jab to the temple.

Even shorter but shifting the tempo, Internicine takes some of the focus off Jawbone’s penchant for wildness and puts it on the riffs. A very interesting track that shows there’s a bit more to this band than just fast heaviness and breakdowns.

Respite is a little under 2 minutes of atmospheric music – a nice and unexpected touch. Especially as it has a sci-fi feel to it. Before the aptly titled Spitting Teeth wraps things up. Some nu-metal influences definitely sneak in here but it’s also got some death touches too.

An impressive debut that shows promise, Jawbone’s Fracture is the sum of many parts. Much of which has been influenced from the swathe of modern hardcore bands across the world. However, there’s also a surprising amount of variety here and no two tracks sound the same. Refinement, time and experience is what is needed now. As far as debuts go, it’s a release to be proud of.

Jawbone – Fracture Full Track Listing:

1. Blight
2. Hyperbolic Picturesque
3. Internicine
4. Respite
5. Spitting Teeth

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook