‘…music that elicits a genuine physical response, and transforms what you think an entire scene is capable of…’
If asked as to which nation has the strongest pedigree for heavy music, many may well say France, and for good reason. From legendary titans such as Gojira, to metalcore icons Landmvrks, to cult favourites such as Birds in Row, there is something at every level of France’s heavy scene that deserves attention. Now seeking to add themselves to the long list of French heavy bands that you need to know is Purge of Sanity, with their debut EP, ‘The Expense Of Striving To Heal‘.
Based out of Nantes, the four-piece emerged back in 2022, but began to truly gain traction earlier this year with the release of their single ‘Candescent‘, which captured the attention of big names within the scene such as Metalbirb. With its progressive yet claustrophobic instrumentation and utterly incendiary vocal performance, ‘Candescent‘ indicated that the band’s debut EP would be something magnificent to behold. Even so, ‘The Expense Of Striving To Heal‘ blows every expectation out of the water, so much so that one can only wonder as to whether this might be the finest heavy release of 2025 so far.
Constructed from the band’s rejection of the modern status quo, the EP is twenty one minutes of crushingly aggressive and wildly creative sonic thunder that brings together influence from not only metalcore and deathcore, but industrial, gabber, and hardcore dance. The EP’s themes of righteous rage, defiance of expectations, and healing in a world that refuses to let you rest are brought to life through five monolithic slabs of metal that keep you gripped from start to finish. Even the EP’s introductory number, ‘The Light You Won’t See‘, feels more complete and fleshed out than material some bands release as lead singles for entire album roll outs, building with a ferocious, cinematic intensity towards a crushing, raging apex.
That build-up pays off with the aforementioned ‘Candescent‘. At over five minutes in length, this utter behemoth of a track bludgeons listeners with walls of thunderous guitars, stabbing percussion, and frenetic electronic elements. Immense choruses rise up and call for those disregarded by wider society to come together and fight back, before crashing back down in increasingly progressive and twisted ways. ‘Mediocre‘ brings the band’s sound more in line with the hardcore of both metal and electronic realms, with two-step rhythms colliding with pulsing gabber beats that hit like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart. It is utterly electrifying to behold, especially when the beat switches up around the two minute mark; remaining sat in one place becomes frankly an impossibility.
‘Malignant Flowers’ pulses with a raving buzz, before stabbing at the listener with pummelling percussion and jagged riffs. Grandiose choruses diffuse into ethereal breakbeat passages, before coalescing into breakdowns that could level buildings. Yet despite all of their brutality, Purge of Sanity are still capable of beauty, and that is clear on the magnificent, cataclysmic closing number, ‘The Expense Of Striving To Heal’. The tracks ducks and weaves through frantic electronic maelstroms, rapturous metalcore cascades, and moments of melancholic, pensive, cinematic progressive metal. The searing guitar solo around the track’s midsection is certain to induce goosebumps, whilst the sparse melodies that reverberate throughout the track’s climax offer a perfect, striking moment of catharsis.
Not only are the instrumentals consistently exciting, invigorating, and creative, vocalist Daken is delivering performances that should have people questioning as to whether we are witnessing the birth of a generational talent. The screams and growls aren’t just there to be ‘heavy’, but carry with them a real, substantial weight; blinding anger that seeks to cut deep. Furthermore, sung passages showcase a warm, rich, and incredibly distinctive voice that can stretch from soft low murmurs to soul-stirring belts.
What Purge of Sanity have achieved here is not simply the best heavy release of the year, but a glimpse into what the heavy music of days to come could evolve into; it feels simply revolutionary to behold. This is not merely a fusion of metalcore’s bold chourses and deathcore’s crushing heaviness, but an experience of taking that fusion to new extremes, and doing so completely effortlessly. This is music that elicits a genuine physical response, and transforms what you think an entire scene is capable of.
‘The Expense Of Striving To Heal’ is so much of a complete marvel to behold, so much so that after listening, I had to take my headphones out, go outside, and grab a coffee. It is with great pleasure that I am forced to do a first for Vinyl Fantasy Reviews.
‘The Expense Of Striving To Heal‘ by Purge of Sanity is now the first Vinyl Fantasy Reviews 100/100 EP.
RATING: 100/100 – Perfect
For Fans Of: Northlane, Void Of Vision, Sleep Token, Witherhorde, Filth, Electric Callboy
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