EP REVIEW: False Thoughts – You Speak to Me As Though I Wasn’t Living

‘…an emotionally impactful and beautifully crafted experience that demands your attention…’

Forming back in February this year, Merseyside’s False Thoughts have already marked themselves as a vital member of the exploding north-west heavy scene. Live performances alongside grassroots alternative favourites such as Sourflake and Dead Animals have garnered quite the positive reception, and the future sees not only them supporting cult favourites Polar, but putting on their own headline performance at the legendary Jacaranda. The latter of these is to be a celebration of the band’s debut EP, ‘You Speak to Me As Though I Wasn’t Living’.

At 26 minutes long, ‘You Speak […]’ is longer than some of the full length records reviewed here this year, pushing the limits of what an EP can be. With it runs the risk of the project feeling lacking in substantive ideas, running far past its optimal time. However, False Thoughts have instead demonstrated that they are a band with an impactful sense of artistry, and produced a record that establishes them as a phenomenal upcoming outfit.

‘You Speak […]’ presents with a conceptual figure known as The Vulture, who confronts the protagonist of the record with themes of ego death, self actualisation, past trauma, and fractured relationships. The concept isn’t an overwhelming and central aspect of the record, but instead a well executed narrative device to add life and character, and thread together the surprisingly expansive collection of sounds here.

’PANIC’ blows open the record with a frenzied skramz-styled sound, with vocalist Mike Fenwick existing almost as a demented personification of anxiety; shrill screams tumble into rapid spoken word sections above claustrophobic and relentless riffs. ‘PREY’ pushes things in a more straightforwards hardcore direction, with bombastic and brilliantly over-the-top lyricism that truly brings The Vulture as a character to life; a predatory shadow that exists over oneself.

The six central songs here are segmented between instrumental cuts, such as the pulsing crescendo of ‘WAR’, which surges perfectly into the grungy, post-hardcore infused ‘TALL’. The first two minutes of ‘TRAP’ make up a gorgeous instrumental passage, with bright, echoing guitars swirling about the listener before imploding into the song proper.

It is artistic choices like these that bring this EP to life, and elevate it beyond just another heavy record; False Thoughts have undeniable vision and ambition, and that thoughtfulness has the potential to take them far.

Whilst the bulk of this record already makes for an incredibly solid EP, it is the closing statement ‘HOPE’ that establishes False Thoughts as truly a band to pay attention to. Approaching six minutes in length, this is a visceral display of painful catharsis, ebbing between pummelling ferocity and sparse yet brutal ambience. It makes for a heartbreaking tug-of-war between anger and acceptance, and demonstrates that False Thoughts are a band that truly has a grasp of how there is a beauty in brutality.

For a debut EP, what False Thoughts have offered has more creative ambition and cathartic weight than some records produced by bands decades into their careers. Certainly, if you’re looking for a record to throw on and throw down to, then you’ll find that here. However, if you sit a little while with False Thoughts and listen to this record from front to back, you’ll find an emotionally impactful and beautifully crafted experience that demands your attention.

This outfit truly could be special.

RATING: 80/100 – Very Good

For Fans Of: Knocked Loose, La Dispute, Lure In, Cainhurst, Bodyweb

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify