Though they have remained relatively quiet over the past 2 years, Like Moths To Flames are breaking silence with the release of a new 2 song EP entitled ‘The Dream Is Dead’. Both songs included, “Bury Your Pain'” and “What’s Done Is Done”, seem to indicate the end of a difficult time for ever-outspoken lyricist/vocalist Chris Roetter but also the end of the ‘An Eye For An Eye’ album cycle. With the end of something dark comes light however, and LMTF as a whole seem to be at their best in both songs. Chris sings a chillingly theatric melody in the pre-chorus of “Bury Your Pain” and has finally found a natural way to incorporate his singing into the choruses and still manage to improve his unrivaled futurity when it comes to unclean vocals. Guitarist Eli Ford still bends, dives and chugs plenty, but continues to delve deeper into a more melodic playing style as evidenced by the undeniably unique (and career-first) solo heard in “What’s Done Is Done”. The clean guitar pluck that begins “Bury Your Pain” is notably an effective method of setting a somber tone for what follows. Much clearer is the bass work of Aaron Evans whose quicker playing can be distinguished from the guitars thanks to a fuller tone than was heard on AEFAE. Don’t worry, there are still a few angry one-liners for any fan of breakdown cues (“I gave up on you long before you gave up on yourself! BLEH!”) but they are only used when it makes sense.
The sound LMTF have always played is a variant of deathcore but combined with an ominously melodic style of metalcore. These songs are consistent with that tag but are more directly written and to-the-point rather than repetitive and predictable. “What’s Done Is Done” especially harkens back to ‘When We Don’t Exist‘s bouncier style but both songs also retain the melody and speed introduced on ‘An Eye For An Eye’. More technicality is being introduced which greatly aids the thrashier sound heard throughout and makes for a more interesting band. In fact, one would not be surprised if on their upcoming record Like Moths To Flames gain comparisons to the metalcore forefathers such as Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying, something that could greatly push them above their contemporaries. The influence is already there, as is a band who is clearly willing to grow. Whatever comes next should be fantastic.
