The New England region of the United States is overflowing with talent. Many of rock and metal's favorite artists originate from the treacherous cold, including Ice Nine Kills, Currents, and Motionless In White. Facing uncertainty, New Hampshire's yet-to-be-discovered metalcore standouts, In Shallows, have transformed their lineup, revealing Matt Pro stepping in on Bass and Vocals. At the same time, Graham Fortier sits behind the drumkit. On March 7th, In Shallows began this new era with new faces and a new sound by releasing their latest rager, "Undertaker."
The first thing that stuck out to me was Colin Trombley's screaming vocals. I was initially unsure of my opinion of his vocal performance. However, the more I listened to the song, the more it grew on me. In 2025, a lot of metalcore bands sound the same, having a vocalist with a unique style may do wonders on setting them apart from their contemporaries. Guitar work by Pro and Bobby Wharton gives the single that familiar modern metalcore vibe with chugging riffs and dissonant panic chords. Finishing it all is a brutal performance by new drummer Graham Fortier.
Of the song's lyrical inspiration, the band describes:
“‘Undertaker’ relates to a time that we went through as a band in order to survive. There were some personal experiences that helped fuel the lyrics and outline the emotions we felt at that time in order to keep pushing forward and not let anything hold us back”
The breakdown in the bridge is one of the most impressive of its kind I have heard in many years. While this is a modern track, the breakdown is reminiscent of Alexandria with the backing gang/yell vocals. This mixture of sounds sets In Shallows apart as a band to watch in 2025 and beyond. Plus, you will have no shortage of great music to check out, as you also can try out their back catalog, and a little birdie tells me they are looking to drop their debut full-length at the end of the year.
