While the leading names in Nu-metal are ones that started twenty to thirty years ago, bands like Sicksense bring high hopes for the genre’s future. Testing the limits of the style Linkin Park and Korn made history with, the group shares their second EP, Fools Tomorrow (Sound Escape Agency), a sequel to their debut EP Kings Today. They each promote the idea of holding on tight to the throne earned from major achievements, stating that it could always be pulled from right under you if your hard work ceases.
The five-track EP makes it immediately apparent that Sicksense practice this themselves through their unhinged genre-bending, turbulent song structures, and diverse range of vocal styles. Fronted by the experienced married couple Killer V (Vicky Psarakis of The Agonist) and Rob The Ripper (Robby J. Fonts of Stuck Mojo), they beautifully pull off a sound that is hard to replicate, thus securing their Nu-metal throne.
Within the first minute of opening track ‘Feed Them To The Wolves’, you’re already served an eclectic sonic palette of hip-hop, alternative rock, industrial effects, and eerie tones, all wrapped up in a classic metalcore blanket – but that’s just the bare bones of what Sicksense has to offer. Subtle bass line cascades shred throughout the bridge, making for an impeccably haunting counterpoint to the angelic vocal harmonies. The serious yet playful tone that would then get wrapped up by a booming breakdown is what gives the group’s songwriting an intriguing personality that leaves you scratching your head while craving more.
Not to mention, the sheer power of the choruses – Killer V does not mess around when it comes to delivering massive, arena-potential hooks. Not a single one of them falls flat, especially the spine-chilling belts of ‘Run And Hide’ that hit like a freight train. In addition, there are several moments when you can hear the unequivocal chemistry between the married vocalists. During the snarky call-and-response rap of ‘Invitation’, the two feed off of each other’s escalating energy until the seamless drop into the final chorus, putting the anthemic melodies into contexts that make them even more fulfilling.
The biggest curveball of Fools Tomorrow is ‘Erase, Rewind’, the final of only five tracks, being almost fully stripped-down acoustic. At first, I was skeptical about this taking the closing slot of an otherwise immense EP – after a brief but wild fifteen minutes of chaos, I was left wanting more. However, it turned out to be an oddly satisfying ending. The raw tone of the acoustic guitar strums coupled with the smooth picking attack hits the ears like an ASMR massage, and they even manage to throw in some electric shreds without losing any of that rawness. Killer V also proves she can sound killer even on the softer songs, putting in just as much emotive passion into it as the others. As if that wasn’t enough, the key change and added harmonies at the end sold it to me that this deserved its spot on the EP. The range that Sicksense are able to fit in under twenty minutes of runtime is baffling. Disorderly yet precisely orchestrated, Fools Tomorrow gets better and better with each listen.
If this is what the future of Nu Metal holds, I’m here for it.
Buy the album here:
https://sickxsense.bandcamp.com/
8 / 10
COLLEEN KANOWSKY