Website: When We Fall
Sweden’s When We Fall looks to jump in with both feet into the overcrowded, bland hardcore scene with their introductory EP A Cry in Despair. With a pedigree featuring former members of punk bands Bowser, The Whole Nine Yards, and Noir, these seasoned musicians combine traditional hardcore styles with the complexity popular in Swedish metal.
Highly emotional lyrics are found throughout A Cry in Despair, with themes centered around alienation from the establishment and lack of acceptance. While the poetic nature may be a bit melodramatic and the English may be far from comprehensible, it’s clear there’s a passion behind the music rather than simple anger. There’s also a much stronger emphasis on musicianship than typical hardcore, making songs like “Bishops Yard” and the title track distinguishable and noteworthy. This doesn’t mean this carries through well through all of the songs, as “You Made Me Wrong” could be described in the exact opposite way, but it’s apparent When We Fall has promise.
It will be interesting to see which direction When We Fall eventually takes; A Cry in Despair rides the fence of innovation and tedium, although that’s more than what can be said for many other hardcore acts moving up in the ranks in today’s scene.
