EP REVIEW: rozemary – the lies they made me believe

‘…the question is not a matter of if rozemary will take over, but a matter of when…’

Are rozemary Merseyside’s next big heavy outfit?

There are no guaruntees in life, and certaintly none within the music industry, yet some bands arrive on the scene already possessing something that cannot truly be defined by words; a quality that presents itself when listening or watching them that makes you immediately remember the name. Since emerging back in 2024, that has been the case for this five-piece, quickly gaining a reputation among the local heavy scene for their incendiary live shows and impassioned approach to metalcore. Eyes from a wealth of music publications have since since been firmly fixed upon the band, wondering if this is the next outfit to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Loathe and God Complex.

Both of the band’s previous singles, ‘empty ceiling‘ and ‘apollo‘, were punchy and immediately memorable slabs of metalcore (or perhaps at the insistence of frontwoman Izabel Lavin, ‘baddiecore’), and could have easily have made their way onto a debut EP. Instead, the band have crafted six brand new tracks to feature on ‘the lies they made me believe‘, and that may have been the perfect creative choice. This EP is nothing short of a superb introduction to rozemary, and those that weren’t paying attention to the band are certain to now.

Opener ‘prey‘ is a brilliantly dramatic cut that contrasts discordant aggression with ethereal wonder. Guitars lunge towards the listener with jagged riffs, before sprawling outwards during surprisingly cinematic choruses. Lavin is a wonderfully compelling vocalist, with shrill, disconcerting screams complimented beautifully by rich and jazzy sung melodies. The ‘fucking go‘ mosh call before the cataclysmic bridge will have you spinkicking the nearest person to you, so make sure grandma is out of the room

‘starlit ballroom‘ sees the band leaning in a distinctly emo direction, and serves as a monolithic display of talent from rozemary. Wickedly catchy, verses gallop forth atop of a guitar riff that already feels like a classic; you can imagine fans of the band losing their minds in a live setting when that first note is struck. The track’s slick polish does not compromise the raw ferocity that the band perform with; if anything, it has you wondering when your favourite arena-sized metalcore band will be taking them on tour.

‘mule‘ serves as a complete onslaught of the senses. This is a cataclysmic closing number that serves as the perfect cathartic statement to wrap up the EP. Guitars swirl about the listener with unsettling discordance, whilst percussion gouges immense grooves that demand you to move. The track serves as a vicious tear down of the capitalist system, whilst the lyrics feature bars such as ‘The only way I’ll look up at you/Is when you dangle with your neck in a noose‘, delivered with a blinding, righteous, riotous fury from Lavin. The band’s hardcore influences are both present and delightful to behold.

rozemary have felt special since their inception. Beloved by their peers and their local scene before even their debut single had dropped, there has always been a suspicion that they are meant for great things. If nothing else, ‘the lies they made me believe‘ is proof that those suspicions deserve to come to fruition. This is a creative, emotive, and well-polished debut EP that wholly deserves to be on your heavy music rotation. With both a killer live set, and now a studio discography that befits the brightest rising stars of heavy music, it seems the question is not a matter of if rozemary will take over, but a matter of when.

RATING: 84/100 – Very Good

For Fans Of: Spiritbox, Bodyweb, Ithaca, Loathe, Harm

Follow the band on social media below:

Instagram // Spotify