EP Review: Necronata - "The MEAT EP"
Necronata brings a heavier grit to the gothic horror punk sound in new EP “The Meat”
Written by JD Walker
Elements of horror are by no means a strange concept in the world of alternative music, but Necronata take these elements over the top with a cinematic approach to song composition and arrangement in their debut EP “The Meat”. The 5-track banger is full of some of the more classical elements of all things spooky, creepy, and scary, but also leverages a wide array of sounds and genres for an overall well-rounded experience that will leave the listener captivated from start to finish.
Artwork for The Meat EP
The EP begins with the lead single, “Diabolical” that starts as more of a traditional horror-punk tune but doesn’t follow that cadence for long. The chorus of the song draws from elements of more popular music with a massive hook in the chorus before alluding to the chaotic heaviness that’s to follow. Vocalist and principal songwriter Brendan Grace has a smooth delivery in both instrumentation and his vocals, using a wide array of vocal styles that range from pop-punk driven singing to more of an industrial sound and everything in between. The video alludes to the occultist undertones of the song with imagery of sacrifice, summonings, and plenty of blood to go around.
Music Video for “Diabolical”
The second song on the EP, “Cirque Du Freak”, takes more of a dark pop approach than “Diabolical”. The dynamic contrast between synth and guitar creates an aura of mystery and shimmering, dark tones that leave the listener in awe. This seems to be the trend of the song... until it’s not. The tune quickly transitions into full unclean vocals and a breakdown that unexpectedly slams the listener and leaves the audience wondering “what the hell just happened?”
The middle song of the EP, “Obsessions”, shows a more upbeat side of Necronata that almost dips into the ska sound. Grace’s vocals fit perfectly in this groovy, catchy tune and create an addictive track that has the propensity for a massive amount of replays. Something Necromata does very well in this song specifically is not being afraid to get heavy without overdoing it. The song dips into heavy, almost djenty breakdowns before quickly transitioning back into the smooth, catchy chorus.
The fourth track, “Panda Eyes”, follows the lead of it’s upbeat predecessor with an even more bouncy and upbeat approach and the patented smooth vocals that tie the whole record together. The breakdown of “Panda Eyes” shows an incredible amount of restraint, relying more on the ambiance of the backing synth instead of balls-to-the-wall heaviness. Grace was saving that for the grand finale of the EP.
The final track on the EP, “Crimson”, is by far the darkest and heaviest. From the very start of the song, it’s clear that something heavy is about to drop. Grace’s vocals fall more in line with the industrial song before kicking into a ridiculous blast beat. The orchestration of ambient synth chimes contrasted with the smattering of blast beats and hook-laden chorus makes this song an eclectic, decisive, and epic finale to “The Meat EP”.
“The Meat EP” overall is an enjoyable and repeatable musical experience - Brendan Grace had a vision of novelistic storylines and terrifying yet catchy music to augment the occult-influenced musical imagery and this EP is clearly a reflection of that. Overall, “The Meat EP” is a record that is sure to catch the listener off-guard in the best way possible. Painting from an extensive palette of different sounds and influences, Necromata has created a cinematic auditory experience that’s one for the ages.