EP Review: The Fire

This Silent Divide’s most recent offering is more of the melodic, hard rock sound fans have come to expect from the Wellington four-piece, combining high energy songs presented on a platter of ‘wall-of-sound guitars’.

There’s a pop catchiness to choruses to be enjoyed here, but there’s also some complexity beneath the surface hidden in less conventional rhythms that break into more conventional time after the tension is explored and less familiar melodies that likewise resolve into more tuneful phrases. Often, atmospheric sections are used to establish an unsettling ambiance which are broken by glorious, catchy choruses that utilise the song title or answer the questions posed by the verses.

The songs are very well produced, presenting shining examples of what modern rock should sound like if a band is keen to receive airplay and fill venues. Experimental it may not be, but it is entertaining and energetic. Moreover, the title of the EP, The Fire (with the I in a different colour than the rest of the word just like their band name) seems to be both an exploration and a celebration of the soul and a rejection of the artificial. The music appears very much human-made and non-digital, and, along with personal lyrics, leaves the impression that the band has considered the sacredness of what makes us human.

The Fire EP combines the punk rock edge that the band has consistently dabbled with (think The Offspring, Fu Manchu or Pennywise) but there’s a little more ambiance and dramatic emotion in the voice on this release. The lyrics are insightful and (most importantly) clearly delivered to ensure understanding, although a few lines are coded in symbolism and have remained enigmatic, at least to me. Lyrically, the songs gravitate toward themes of control or lack thereof, but also tender situations that could vaguely refer to relationships or being a member of society in today’s troubling times.

The EP was produced, recorded and mixed by Toby Lloyd at Wellington’s Tiny Triumph Recordings, then mastered in Germany by Robin Schmidt. This really shows on the high quality of the recording and the balanced mix between the instruments.

Formed in 2018, This Silent Divide have been steadily releasing EPs since 2021, increasing their fan base and their repertoire. This EP doesn’t vary much from the standard formula, but hey, if it ain’t broke don’t meddle! The band consists of Shaun Jones (vocals, guitar), Kieran Williams (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jonatan Jaworski (bass) and newcomer Tim Wright on drums. Ex-band member Sunil Jolly features on this EP, which might explain the continuation of the bold and punchy sound as the lineup has not altered since their inception. The band has a sound that could be considered similar to Audioslave but also 90’s era Metallica. While the band has moments that are as sonically layered as any Deftones or Tool tune, they never really descend into real modern heaviness, preferring to keep things agile, fresh and clear.

Rockets starts the EP off with a bang utilising a sophisticated riff in 3/4, allowing guitars and bass to interweave cleverly. The voice of Jones is clear and presented in a sincere, nearly forthright manner, almost as if he is delivering some long overdue news at an intervention. The theme for this song, with its imagery of war, could well be about brotherhood and bonding found in times of pressure. Jones’ clear tenor presents the listener with a problem and a question: “Mate’s bleeding out / There’s no time to think / Artery struck / Just two minutes for him to survive / Do I stay / Let him die? / Or risk my life?” The chorus breaks, and in response, he sings that no matter what we must rescue our peers, even “While rockets fall! / Carried through fire / Defenceless and bold…”. There’s a great, if succinct, guitar solo that is well structured and considered, ending with an unearthly wail.

Second track, Control, features another complex riff with a guitar solo served over it straight away. Lead guitarist Williams puts his wah pedal to great effect on this one. This song seems to be more about experiencing frustration in modern society, balancing work-life balance while we are numbed by news media and we fight our own subconscious thoughts. Jones chants in frustration: “And you’ve got your truths / Not even your war / Who you gonna sue, to bring the terror home? / All these little clues / Don’t equate to anything! / … Echo chamber news, analyse it all / It’s all doom and gloom, is there any rest?” The chorus offers some solace to these modern issues with the mantra: “In your damaged state / You’re lying to yourself, / Imagine no control!” hinting that any sense of control was illusory anyway. There’s a super-sinister element to the bridge, showing off some great ride cymbal playing, followed by a melodic, (dare I say, hopeful), guitar solo that brings this epic rock song to a close.

Third track Secret Path is a little slower and seems to be the ballad of the EP. The song tackles themes such as mortality and self-belief. A sense of loss is presented in the verse (“And when you go, it’s like a book written in vain, It’s a different show, but the plot line is the same”) in a subdued and sombre tone. The pre-chorus erupts creating a different mood altogether as Jones sings “Into the night / Dark fears controlling you”, followed by a positively upbeat and affirming chorus (“Reach inside! No one taught you to fall, Reach inside! Desire brings you more”). It’s a nice adventure to enjoy when the song returns to the verse once more and one that will be enjoyable for a crowd expecting the satisfaction the chorus brings.

Last track City Lights is an energetic, heavy-hitting rock song about living in a city of sin, distraction and questioning your role inside society. The menacing intro riff fades away at the beginning of the song to reveal the bass and drums carrying the melody as guitars wail with unsettling noises. As Jones sets the scene for the listener, the imagery of the city begins to appear: “Glistening chrome and neon lights / Quench your thirst / Majestic thrills”. The band returns double time on the chorus using driving drums with impressive fast fills as Jones considers what may be beneath the surface of the city: “What do you want from me? / What is it I can’t see?” There’s a really fantastic build before the final chorus which, perhaps uncharacteristically, showcases real screams, ending with a tidy partial riff and the band stops on a dime. Impressive stuff indeed.

This Silent Divide continue to serve up tidy rock gems with punchy production that allows the whole band to shine. The band plays with passion, and these songs will go down a treat in the live setting. Arguably, all of these songs are single material, and I can’t help but wonder what interesting song structures or musical interplay the band might experiment with if they were working toward a full length album that could more fully explore what they are capable of. For now, fans should feel lucky to have four more muscular rock songs from this amazing band to learn so they can shout the lyrics back and mosh to.