a testament to a grassroots hardcore scene with an unwavering desire to see itself grow and thrive
Mario and Luigi. Pizza and fries. Capitalism and proletarian revolt. Some things are just meant to be together. Now with this fantastic little split EP of post-hardcore adjacent bangers, we can add Muddle and Lorelai to that list.
Established in 2021 and 2018 respectively, both of these outfits have found themselves on the Merseyside hardcore circuit as of late, and already each have garnered quite the reputation as ferocious live acts. With ‘Split’, both bands make their most significant musical statements to date, and solidify their position as some of the most important and exciting new acts from the north west.
Whilst Muddle’s opening two tracks see them blend post-hardcore with a muddy grunge wall of sound, Lorelai approach things in a far more 00’s emo manner, giving both acts room to shine in their own regard, whilst keeping a common musical theme present across all four tracks.
‘Dig’ perfectly showcases Muddle’s penchant for producing hurtling blend of twinkling post-hardcore soaked in overwhelming grunge fuzz. The gentler introductory verses eventually explode into an uproar of pummelling punk rhythms and vocals that walk a thin line between screams and spoken word.
‘On Your Guard’, on the other hand, is far more ferocious, with a heavier tone throughout, a greater emphasis on raw and unclean vocals, and a filthy breakdown in the back half that almost feels a little sludge metal in its execution.
As previously mentioned, Lorelai shine in a far more classic emo post-hardcore way, with punchy yet intricate instrumentation blazing away beneath vocals that loosely toy with the idea of catchy melodies whilst retaining a raw, uncompromising punk edge.
‘Glue’ is the far more aggressive of Lorelai’s contributions, with a direct punk energy that translates through the frantic percussion and driving guitar riffs, all accompanied by simple, screamed vocals that are delivered with a visceral bite.
Some publications may already have started on their end of year lists, but there’s a danger to that: missing out on a stellar last minute release. ‘Caw’ is exactly that. From the infectious choruses, packing one hell of a central hook, to the immensely fun guitar performance, to the genuinely phenomenal percussive performance that risks setting your ears alight, everything about this track is executed in a manner that is absolutely certain to drag you into Lorelai’s grasp.
It’s the kind of song that gifts you an unwavering belief that this is a truly special outfit.
Both Muddle and Lorelai represent a growing hardcore scene that has swept across the country, from hotbeds such as Southampton and Leeds, to finally reaching usually indie dominated landscapes like Merseyside. ‘Split’ is a testament to a grassroots hardcore scene with an unwavering desire to see itself grow and thrive, and certainly feels like an EP that will go down as a monumental crossover between two future stars of the scene.
RATING: 80/100 – Very Good
For Fans Of: danger dog, MAYBANK, Thrice, mewithoutYou, Bodyweb
Follow the bands on social media below:
Muddle
Instagram // Spotify // Bandcamp
Lorelai
VINYL FANTASY REVIEWS 
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