SINGLE REVIEW: Honor Me - "Sinking"

Honor Me explore the soulful side of metalcore with “Sinking”

Written by JD Walker

When a band mixes multiple genres that don’t necessarily go together, it can be a bit like a combination of experimental pizza toppings: either very good, or very very bad (and before you ask, pineapple belongs on pizza). Honor Me found just the right amount of experimentation and blending of genres and have created something truly special with “Sinking”. The smattering of metalcore, post-hardcore, R&B, and even hip-hop influences make Honor Me one of the most exciting and unique with a soundscape that appeals to such a wide variety of listeners. 

“Sinking” starts with an ominous, ambient build-up that quickly transitions into a breakdown-driven verse. The guitar work of Britney Arkin and Ono Malapitan does a great job of balancing noodly leads with airtight, crunchy rhythms. The soaring leads found in the chorus and bridge add a massive amount of depth that encapsulates the listener. Bassist Chloe Daniel and Dominic Neri did not disappoint on the rhythm section, matching the heavier sections perfectly while not being afraid to branch out during more open sections. One bridge around the 2:11 section of the song was orchestrated absolutely flawlessly with Neri showing off some choppy fills while Daniel willed the space with syncopation. 

“Sinking” was already an incredible song instrumentally, but the main attraction of the song is the vocals of Jamal Bacchus. Just... wow. Bacchus has a smooth, soulful delivery not unlike Rory Rodriguez of Dayseeker or Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust. Bacchus’ vocals are full of life, orchestral, and get gritty and dirty when they need to be. He does a fantastic job of ebbing and flowing with the song and morphing his tone and delivery to fit the song perfectly. 

“Sinking” is just an incredible song altogether. The composition would easily stack up as an instrumental, but paired with a skilled vocalist it becomes a true masterpiece. A band is only as strong as its weakest link, and Honor Me just doesn’t have one. The group clearly knows what they’re doing when orchestrating a song and maximized potential to where the song as a whole flourished. Honor Me is a great example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, and “Sinking” is evidence of that fact.