Are you really telling me you are unfamiliar with the metalcore legends-in-the-making that are Glasswaves? Well, don't worry. I was, too, until I got a hold of this new EP from the band and now that is all I can think of. It Was Always Meant To End is truly a metalcore masterpiece in terms of lyrics, production, and pure musical talent. I don't think there is a single thing I dislike about the EP. If I still have your attention, keep on reading so I can continue to convince you to have this new release on repeat 24/7.
The EP has a wonderfully done dark-pop sound while not ignoring the band's metalcore roots. Take the opening track titled "Second Nature", which if we are being honest, is sure to be a killer song to hear live. It almost sounds like an anthem meant to be screamed by hundreds of thousands of fans to the point of causing emotional destruction. You can feel every emotion in every word vocalist Noah Rich sings and screams. While I enjoyed every song on the EP, I would have to say that the title track "It Was Always Meant To End" is my favorite. How do you start a song with lyrics like "your body talks to me / In a foreign language" and transition into "You're staring at a corpse / And I don't wanna be here anymore / What the fuck is wrong with me?" and not expect me to be in a whirlwind of emotion? Rich states how:
"We chose this track as the self-titled song because it carries such raw emotion and perfectly captures the core theme of the EP - the tension, vulnerability, and volatility of a toxic relationship. This song marks a turning point for us creatively. We stepped outside the traditional boundaries of songwriting and let the emotion drive the process. It’s somewhat of a hybrid song. Starts out as an EDM track then seamlessly blends into a massive rock piece. We feel this is our most compelling and authentic work to date."
There is just something about this release that keeps drawing me back to it. No other band is scratching that itch like Glasswaves is right now. "Downpour" is a perfect example of that. It is heavy in every sense of the word and I can't get enough of it. I don't know if I want to throw down in a mosh pit while I listen to the song or sit on the couch and cry. Maybe I'll do both? Both is good. I know I am not the only one who is feeling all these emotions as Rich states:
"Looking back on the process of writing the EP It Was Always Meant To End, it hits a lot harder than I expected. At the time, I was carrying so much, emotions I hadn’t unpacked, chaos I hadn’t made sense of and it all became this weight on my shoulders. But hearing how everything came together, how each track bleeds into the next contextually, it feels like I finally gave voice to things I hadn’t been able to say out loud. There’s a quiet kind of release to that. It’s emotional because it feels real. Like I was finally able to express a part of myself that’s usually buried. I also have to give a huge shoutout to our producer, Justin Spaulding, who played a major role in co-writing and helped guide the process of turning all of that emotion into something honest and powerful in the lyrics."
Do yourself a favor and give this EP a listen. Not just a listen in the car or on a walk, but sit down and truly experience this EP as it was meant to be. You will not be disappointed. If anything, you will more than likely feel like a new person as you expel everything that has been haunting you and weighing you down.
