Band Members: Alex Debney – Vocals
Ben Canty – Guitar
Zak Kotschner – Guitar
Aidan Kofoed – Bass
Ashley Dunne – Drums
Bio: Ennui Breathes Malice a.k.a. EBM, is a 5-Piece progressive metalcore outfit based in Ballarat, Regional Victoria – Australia! After notable setbacks, EBM have shared stages with such esteemed acts as : Whitechapel (USA), For The Fallen Dreams (USA), The Red Shore, Carpathian, In Trenches, Psycroptic, The Berzerker, Wish For Wings, The Abandonment and many more. It is hard to accurately specific a certain brand or style of music associated to Ennui Breathes Malice, successfully blending beauty and brutality in each compostion…. With a solely independant debut release to date, EBM shall release a follow up full length album in the early stages of 2010.
My review: I can see that Ballarat, Vic., Australia, a town of around 88,000 people, is fast becoming the Metal capital of Australia! First, we had Kaamora, a Death Metal group, now we have another fine group, Ennui Breathes Malice, a great Metalcore/Deathcore group. I’m sure more will follow. One thing I do want to mention is that at the present time I am not entirely sure, aside from Canty and Dunne, if any of the other members mentioned here are still with EBM or not.
As most visitors may know by now, I usually do a lot of research before I write a review. This one is no exception. Seems that the “Growling” vocal technique used in most if not all, forms of metal music originated as far back as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ release of “I Put A Spell On You” in 1956! That’s right, 1956! Hawkins also pioneered many of the other “metal” techniques such of heavy use of smoke machines and even arising from a coffin at the start of his performances! Hawkins may well have been the first “Shock Rock” performer! Whenever you think something is radically new, it probably isn’t!
Anyway, now that we’ve had our history lesson, Ennui Breathes Malice is one of the hottest new Metal acts to hit the circuit! Ennui Breathes Malice has overcome several obstacles to produce one of the outstanding demo EP’s of the year, Of Agony & Ecstasy. Remember now, this is an EP not a full album, so it is noticeably shorter than some would like.
I really like the overall composition of the songs, I think they were well thought out and the lyrics are also well written. You can tell that a lot of work went into this EP. Track 1, Agony, adequately sets the dark tone of the EP and Track 8, Ecstasy finishes it smoothly.
One track in particular stands out and that is “When Curiosity Kills A Dog”. In this one song, a little over four minutes EBM touches on just about everything that makes Heavy Metal, Heavy, and even throws in a little “Glam Rock” for good measure. Here are the Lyrics, but I must warn you some may find them offensive.
Rotting inside – Decayed!
Shit hits the fan – A lack of mercy clears the room;
I designed it to humiliate you!
Such courage and compassion would humble me, had it been real….
Who truly believes your lie?
Do you find solace in ridicule?
Black is a fad – Attacks all beauty in the room; In the room….
Ape those who walk by, while eroding inside!
Curiosity is a fashion that could topple you with looks that could kill…..
I deny it, to stay different from you – Cripples me with looks that could kill
Slice your magenta lips – Spills no vanilla!
Now slit your frail wrists – Still no vanilla – Pale your faces!
Rotting inside!
I hate your pale face – Go slit your fucking wrists bitch!
Bleed – Slut!
Another track I found intriguing is The Most Embarrassing Part About Hardcore Dancing Is… Telling Your Parents Your Gay! I like the spoken intro and feel its quite profound and adds a lot to the overall song.
As to the overall production of Agony and Ecstasy, I appreciate, even favor, the elimination of any pause between tracks as I feel this adds to the “flow” of the music. I do, however, feel that something is lacking in overall fidelity and recording quality. Keep in mind that all I had to work with was digital downloads and not the actual CD. Perhaps the recording quality is better on the CD, I don’t know.
All in all, for a first time demo recording, Of Agony & Ecstasy stands out and I hope I am given the opportunity to review Ennui Breathes Malice’s promised full album sometime in 2010. I rate them a 9 out of 10 and a “thumps up”! Keep your eye on them in the future!
Some of the tracks have rather long names, and I know they won’t fit in my player, so here is a list of the full track titles!
1: Agony
2: Don’t Confuse Bravery For Courage… It Begins With The Letter “B”
3: Lacerating Stones With Origami Scissors
4: The Most Embarrassing Part About Hardcore Dancing Is… Telling Your Parents You’re Gay
5: Salmon Is Not A Colour
6: When Curiosity Kills A Dog
7: On The Seventh Day, God Created Myspace
8: Ecstasy
To demonstrate the “flow of the tracks” I have combined tracks 1 and 2 so they play as they would if you had the actual CD or even the downloads with no pause between tracks.
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Here is a video of Salmon Is Not A Colour. Enjoy!
Of Agony And Ecstasy is available through artist’s website, just click on the banner!
