With the UK alternative scene currently in very good health, it’s conceivable that you may have missed out on In Requiem when they formed in 2014, such is the wealth of talent currently around. If so then this re-release of their debut EP will serve as the perfect introduction for many, and a re-introduction to those who perhaps caught on when it was initially released but need a bit of a reminder.
‘Shelter’ opens with a heavy riff that brings with it a wave of melodic yet weighty guitars. The background electronic instrumentation really fleshes out the song and gives it an epic almost cinematic quality. It’s a tactic that has been used before by the likes of 30 Seconds To Mars but it’s just as effective here and it’s a huge compliment to the guys that such comparisons can be made within the first minute of the first song. The strong drumming throughout strengthens the song further and the guitar solo towards the end is another brilliantly executed piece of musicianship that adds even more quality to the song.
You could argue that acts such as Funeral For A Friend or Don Broco achieved breakout status by striking a balance between heavier tracks and more radio-friendly efforts and it’s a blend that In Requiem show they are more of capable of pulling off. ‘Cope’ mixes a more dance-orientated beat with Adam Fear’s strong vocals, and the chorus is truly built for huge singalongs. The whispered vocal bridge launches the song into an anthemic final third with a late key change taking the song up yet another gear.
Adam’s brother Owen plays guitar for In Requiem, and it certainly comes across that their bond fuels the creativity that the whole band effortlessly demonstrate. ‘The Beat Inside’ is the perfect counterpart to ‘Cope’ as a pulsing bassline beats at the heart of the song, and crunching riffs tower overhead, with the underlying urgency to the song reflected by the faultless drumming of Lee Cottey.
‘Broken’ shows a darker, harder edge to the band and ‘Holy Hands’ highlights a more brooding side that In Requiem may choose to develop further. Musical barriers and tastes are constantly shifting but ‘In Requiem’ is perhaps more impressive now than it was first time around. The quality of the guitar solos throughout shows that the band has one eye on filling arenas as their music is almost designed to fill such huge spaces. Whether the re-release is intended to act a springboard for new material remains to be seen, but it has certainly left them perfectly placed to go onto much bigger and better things.
CHRIS HILSON