‘Paradise In The Dirt’ is not only the latest release by the South-West five-piece, but also the start of a new chapter for the band. Musically Syren City are continuing in the same direction they’ve been heading in since forming in 2011, but ‘Paradise In The Dirt’ is set to form part of a series of releases that are tied together by an ongoing concept. To accompany the EP, they’ve also released a video for the track ’10,000 Knives’ and have put pen to paper for an accompanying graphic novel. It’s an intriguing level of detail to go into, and proves beyond any doubt the commitment that Syren City has to what they’ve created.
Made up of just three tracks, it may be that ‘Paradise In The Dirt’ will end up playing a smaller role in a much wider story. Nonetheless it’s an intriguing and layered introduction that also packs a punch musically, with each track conjuring a different mood as Syren City set about constructing their characters and world.
‘It’s Morphine Time’ opens with a series of Scissorfight-style heavy riffs that drive home the twisting nature of the guitars that lay at the heart of Syren City’s brand of post-hardcore, whilst the impressive vocals really make you feel that you’re part of the story. The rhythmic and softly sung verses of ‘Danielle’ initially make it sound as if they’re being played by a different band, but Syren City swing back to walls of guitar for the melodic yet bruising chorus, with the music serving as the perfect counterpart to the dark lyrics.
The final track, ’10,000 Knives’, marks another shift in pace. Although it shares similarities with ‘It’s Morphine Time’, it stands out as being the strongest of the three tracks on offer. The vocals, both lead and backing, are at their strongest and the guitars seem to have a bit more bite. Whilst very much having their own identity, the way Syren City tell their tale is not dissimilar to how bands like Protest The Hero tell theirs. Certainly Syren City have produced music worthy of a larger audience, and there are plenty of signs here that they are not just excellent musicians but performers as well. They may have only begun to tell us their newest story, but on this evidence the next few chapters should prove to be just as exciting and imaginative.
CHRIS HILSON