ALBUM REVIEW: Pulse – Body is Reality

‘…Pulse join a steadily growing group of metalcore bands taking the genre to new and refreshing heights…’

Pulse are an outfit that give little away. Described by themselves often only as ‘UK metalcore’, they commenced their career back in 2020 bearing masks and wielding the mantra ‘ourpulseisyours’ as a signifier of unity between artist and listener.

Armed with immense tracks such as the viciously groovy ‘Flies’, alongside one of the finest live sets in modern heavy music, Pulse have been on the radar of those with their fingers on the pulse of the heavy scene for quite some time. Last month, after a steady stream of killer singles, we finally saw the band unveil their debut LP, Body is Reality’,

Straddling the line between hardcore and metalcore, ‘Body is Reality’ is 25 minutes of pure heavy energy, bludgeoning the listener with swaggering grooves, ferocious vocals, and violent breakdowns. Themes of mortality, despair, and existentialism are brought to life through the calculated aggression of the band’s performances, as the record effortlessly flows through up-tempo ragers threaded with nu-metal flair, and surprisingly nuanced ballads with contemporary pop and hip-hop influences.

Opener ‘Burial Ground’ blows open the album in a monstrous fashion, with huge bass led grooves carving out a space for apocalyptic vocals that effortlessly muster up both crushing growls and vicious screams. ‘Disengagement’ is a cataclysmic number featuring a thunderous guest appearance from Josh Davies, vocalist of deathcore outfit Ingested; disgusting riffs surge forwards atop of relentless percussive rhythms, giving the whole affair a grim and unsettling tone. ‘The Perfect Gene’ makes for a blistering technical showcase, as the band plunge through a variety of tempos and assault the listener with brilliant breakdowns.

The sonic hurricane is punctuated with moments of surprising beauty and vulnerable introspection. ‘Silver Skies’ eschews the heavy metal for gorgeously layered electronics and soft house beats, with ethereal vocals from Chloe Cuthbert. ‘Fall To Despair’ offers a surprisingly emotive anthem, with the complexity and aggression dialled down in favour of a more thoughtful approach to heaviness. It is perhaps moments such as this that enables the heaviness to truly shine; the claustrophobia of the physicality of existence, and the dread that may induce.

Perhaps all that can be urged of Pulse is to, simply put, get weirder. ‘Body is Reality’, alongside their multiple singles, suggests a band that has perhaps limitless creative potential. The manner in which the band are able to embellish their core blend of hardcore and metalcore with hints of DnB, industrial, and trap demonstrated this perfectly, and hopefully with a sophomore record, listeners will get to see this monstrous sound truly blossom.

For a debut record however, ‘Body is Reality’ does precisely what is needed, laying down the modus operandi of Pulse for newcomers, and evolving perfectly upon their sound for longtime listeners. In a scene dogged by accusations of stagnancy and over-saturation, Pulse join a steadily growing group of metalcore bands taking the genre to new and refreshing heights. There’s never been a better time to get in a pit and push your friends.

RATING: 77/100 – Mostly Very Good

For Fans Of: Thrown, Graphic Nature, ten56, Alpha Wolf, Headbussa

Physical copies are available to purchase here, with cassettes exclusively sold here.

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify