their ferocious post-hardcore sound deftly weaves together brilliant artistry, subtle complexity, and pure catchiness
When was the last time you felt excited by an artist or band?
I’m not talking someone that you thought was neat, or someone you could imagine going to see live if there was nothing else to do. I mean an artist that you cannot help but have a truly unshakeable belief in, one that you can see easily exploding into the mainstream consciousness of their musical community.
The Throwaway Scene have been that band for a while now. The Manchester-based four piece appeared on the scene with their brief, enigmatic lo-fi debut ‘Contrived’ back in 2021, before following it up with a series of absolutely incredible singles such as ‘Stay’ and ‘Keep Dreaming’.
Somewhere at the crossroads of My Chemical Romance, Creeper, and Crooks UK, their ferocious post-hardcore sound deftly weaves together brilliant artistry, subtle complexity, and pure catchiness to produce a sound that is just begging to set the alternative scene alight. And never more has that been the case than on this project, their debut EP ‘On Death & Dying’.
The EP builds upon the the seminal work of the same name. Authored by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, it features the Kübler-Ross model of grief, known colloquially as the five stages of grief, which is an exploration of the experiences of those with terminal illness as they approach death. From this, The Throwaway Scene construct five songs that build on the central themes of these stages: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Commencing with the band’s two most recent singles, ‘Fake Death’ and ‘Who Else Is In The Room’, the EP explodes into life with back to back fast-paced and furiously catchy emo anthems. ‘Fake Death’ is the more progressive of the pair, evolving through different musical concepts and ideas, before terminating with a rousing breakdown segment; vocalist Oliver Hame is a marvel to behold throughout, combining theatrical and compelling vocal delivery with genuine talent, particularly during the choruses with their winding and infectious melodies.
Last year, ‘Who Else Is In The Room’ found itself at number three on my Top 50 Songs of 2023, and a full review of the track can be found here, but what has been said already bares repeating; this is simply a phenomenal track. The thunderous riffs combining with the vocal hooks that are impossible to not be reeled in by and the visceral lyricism and delivery makes this track an instant emo classic. You can practically hear Hame pacing the floor as he anxiously plays out scenarios in his head, conspiring with someone just off stage in the darkness (‘Cause of the pain hidden in plain sight/Talk to me quick ‘cos we’re burning daylight’).
Of course, many a musical project falls short outside of its singles, but it’s arguable that ‘On Death & Dying’ is elevated to a whole different level because of them. ‘Bury Me’ is bursting with irreverent, danceable energy that electrifies the listener immediately. The track rips through hardcore punk percussive beats before launching into huge, soaring choruses that practically beg you to sing along to them. On top of that, it’s lyrically arguably the band’s strongest track to date; grappling with wishing you could take the place of another, Hame delivers some incredible bars such as ‘Please, let me take his place/No god can save you, but don’t think I won’t try’ and ‘Got a clockwork heart going overtime/And a broken head that fell apart’. All of this builds to a beautiful acoustic outro segment.
’Sometimes (I’m Drowning In My Sleep)’ serves as not only a brilliant main conclusion to this EP, but as a way of tying together material from not just across this project, but earlier in the band’s canon. That’s central lyrical motif of ‘drowning in my sleep’ appears on their previous single ‘Conscience Alley (D.N.O.T.S)’, implying some potential for an overarching concept or narrative of the band’s material. It’s this sort of artistry that is part of why The Throwaway Scene is so exciting to engage with; it’s more than just a matter of writing music, it’s crafting a world in which this music feels as though it belongs to.
Whilst ‘Sometimes’ does feature as the main closing track of this EP, with its gang vocal chants in the outro acting as a wonderfully rousing conclusion, there is one final track, an epilogue in the form of the formless ambience of ‘Rumour’. It’s certainly a complete curveball given the material that preceded it, layering vocals, keys, strings, and gentle percussive elements to produce something that feels like the ghost of a song. However, it belongs just as much as any of the emo anthems on here, serving as a testament to the creativity and talent of this electrifying band.
This release is important. A bold statement, yes, but one that I am willing to throw my entire weight behind. ‘On Death & Dying’ is what happens when a collection of creative and talented musicians take their time in crafting something that is more than just a collection of good songs, something that is a piece of art to be listened to, explored, dissected, and listened to again and again. It’s a statement, a manifesto on building something not just for an algorithm, but for the joy of creativity and the importance of art for the human spirit.
If 2024 isn’t The Throwaway Scene’s year, then there truly is no justice.
RATING: 93/100 – Excellent
For Fans Of: My Chemical Romance, Creeper, Crooks UK, Static Dress, Modern Error, Hot Milk
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