Review: Against Realism - In Perpetuity (EP)

Label: DIY

I've been following AGAINST REALISM for some time now and already covered the Demo he put out earlier this year. On top of that, he took Part 16 of the "mEMOries"-series as the "odd man in". 

The music of the Australian, now residing in Japan, is indeed just that. Odd. He uses Electronica, Synths and heavy distorted, part-spoken, part-mumbled, part-shouted vocals as the base of his music. Along the way the term "Bedroom Skramz" was created and I'm more than happy with that, struggling every single time I try to describe this kind of music. It's experimental and avantgarde and free of any conventions, but most importantly it's all about the feeling...

The Demo already made that clear. It felt mysterious, outlandish and tortured and made you feel uncomfortable or uneasy, but in the best kind of way. The following EP "The End of the Beginning", released two and half months prior to the new EP emphasized what the Demo promised. With a more streamlined approach, intense vocals and dark lyrics full of self-loathing, AGAINST REALISM hit home.

"In Perpetuity" continues in the same mentality, but the sentiment is different and that is something I dig. The opener "Forever Home" is the softest track the one-man-band has written as of yet. It's surprisingly forgiving, melancholic and chilling. Only the usually spazzed out vocals bring some turmoil to the track, but even they are pretty soft in the spheres of AGAINST REALISM. "You're gentler with ur iphone than you are with me" as well as "I just wanna watch you walk away" continue the trend of putting his music in a Midwest-Emo-kind-of setting, yet the depressing emotions are as strong as ever in the latter song with lyrics like "I hate myself more than you ever will".

With the last two tracks "Stupid Question" and "Time" AGAINST REALISM takes a turnaround, as these songs are more up-beat and in the fashion of "The End of the Beginning". The somersaulted rhythms that end "Time" (and the EP itself) are a really cool and unexpected moment after the laid-back start of the record. All in all, a nice progression from the first two outings. Give this a chance if you're seeking fresh stuff!

Against Realism on Bandcamp
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