Review by Sarah Swinburne
Belgian Metalcore group Essence return with
a new EP after taking a break from music for
some time. Lead singer Michiel (and only
Michiel, all band members are known only by
their first names) has been battling a severe
chronic illness on and off for the last decade.
When faced with his mortality, Michiel had an
epiphany regarding what is truly important in
life. Their new EP ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ is the
product of his life changing journey.
First established in 2005, Essence had
undergone several different variations in
personnel before finding their stride with their
current line-up. They are: Michiel on vocals,
Steve on drums, Maarten as chief guitarist,
Stein on rhythm guitar and Jelle on bass.
Essence released their debut album ‘The
Defining Elements’ to critical acclaim in 2012.
In the ensuing flurry of articles about them,
they were oft lauded as being the more
thoughtful side of metalcore, in the same vein
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as Elitists and Architects. In the wake of
Michiel’s fortunate recovery from a serious
illness, incidentally the inspiration for the first
track of the EP ‘Submerged’, Essence became
all the more insular and contemplative.
Lyrically speaking, ‘Smoke and Mirrors’
challenges the misconception that sex,
religion, political leanings and ethnicity play
any part in ones sense of morality and justice.
Religion and the media, they insist, are
responsible for the proliferation of the grossest
misunderstandings of decency and integrity
since time began. Moral outrage in the media
and a backward sense of decency expounded
by religions is worth nothing against the
personal principles of the masses. This notion
is melodically explored in ‘Prophecy’. The
contrapuntal melody lines are almost fencing
amidst a backdrop of cacophonous drums and
thundering bass. There is a war occurring in
this song.
3.5
The standout track of the EP is most
definitely ‘The Climb’ this tale of
perseverance and tenacity is noteworthy in its
simplicity. While the other songs courted
chaos and destruction, ‘The Climb’ is content
with a more straightforward approach. Heavily
distorted though it is, it still manages to display
an elaborate and, at times, delicate melody.
The music video for this single consists of the
quintet purging all of their considerable anger
under a bridge while the camera periodically
cuts to a sullen girl who mournfully stares
down the lens. The import or significance of
this is unclear (as is typical in most music
videos) but the pensive nature of the lyrics
suggests a yearning to move to a softer
approach. Given the personal and meditative
nature of the EP in general, it might have been
more effective if presented in a more laid back
manner, the anger and pandemonium seems to
be at odds with subject matter of the songs.