SONG REVIEW: Serene - "Alone"

Brisbane band redefines what “Catchy” and “Heavy” means in their newest single

by Jesse Smith

Australians are good at 3 things; Dealing with the world's deadliest animals and massive spiders like they’re house pets, surfing, and metalcore. There must be something in the drinking water over there that just makes you into a superior metal song writer because everytime I hear an Aussie band they are always sick. From local bands to Parkway Drive, all of them bang hard and Serene is no exception. The Brisbane group have been around for a minute with their first release being all the way back in 2015. The band is still pumping out banger after banger and their newest single titled “Alone” is (in my opinion) the best song they’ve put out to date. 


When I first sat down and listened to the new single, I wasn’t prepared for how heavy this song is. Starting from the start, Serene comes out of the gate with a heavy riff that has bounce like a basketball. It is one of those riffs that when someone writes it and lays it down, you build a whole song around it and it becomes the main riff that keeps coming back and you know what, as a listener, I’m ok with this because it bangs so hard. The intensity of this track is non-stop and even in the pre choruses it’s just a chance to catch your breath before singing your heart out with them. Serene has the dual vocalist line up which gives you that healthy mix between clean and scream vocals which is very 2015 of them and I’m here for it. The song doesn’t lose any heaviness during the chorus but it does check the “sing-ability” box on the great metalcore song checklist. The section that stood out the most for me happens a little after the 2 minute mark. There is an underlying synth/electronic element that is behind the instruments in most of the song and a little more noticeable during the chorus that makes it feel big and full, but right after 2 minutes they bring back a variation of the main riff but with that synth part more in the forefront and it brings all of the energy with it. 


Between the crushing guitar tone and the fast paced drums, the song is not only heavy but it’s catchy too. It gets stuck in your head and if you’re a person like me who looks more towards the heavier parts you’ll understand what I’m saying when I mean the heavier parts are just as catchy as the chorus. As a musician myself and a heavy music lover, the hook isn’t the only part that can be “catchy”. That main riff has been stuck in my head ever since I listened to it for the first time and that is credited to guitarist Jared Vickers. Again, there is something in the water over in Australia because this is another example of a band that just rips front to back and the sad part is unless you’re from there you may not have heard of Serene, but you should. 

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