SEEYOUSPACECOWBOY…/IF I DIE FIRST RELEASE SPLIT EP ‘A SURE DISASTER’ (EP REVIEW)

Skramz is back, and it’s better than ever. Rising mathcore outfit Seeyouspacecowboy… and post-hardcore supergroup If I Die First have released a split EP ‘A Sure Disaster‘, alongside a collaborative song co-written and performed by both bands titled “bloodstainedeyes“. The outcome is an chaotic and pulverizing wall of sound and full assault on the eardrums, featuring SYSC‘s raw screams and dissonant instrumentation accompanied by melodic emo choruses and cleans of If I Die First. It’s a masterpiece of a track and the focal point of the EP.

The first half of the EP is Seeyouspacecowboy‘s side of the release, featuring two new tracks from the band, “Painting A Clear Picture From A Unreliable Narrator” and “Modernizing The Myth Of Sisyphus“. The former opens the album setting the tone with fast chug riffs and blast beats and a brutal vocal performance from frontwoman Connie Sgarbossa. Dissonant guitars and a strong chorus hook help the song stand out as one of the best tracks in the band’s discography. The latter of the two being the the most chaotic cut of the album, with a 1:47 runtime and the heaviest riff of the EP. The song stands out with it’s melodic chorus and clean vocals, something the band previously has rarely delve into. To quote Connie at the end of the track, “it’s pretty sassy”. This entire side of the EP is fantastic and the only complaint is that the latter track is a bit too short and feels like it could have been longer, but the band is also known for short runtimes.

On the flip side of the record is If I Die First‘s two new tracks, “Mirror, Mirror This Is Nothing Like You Promised” and “My Nightmares Would Do Numbers As Horror Movies“. The first of the two songs is the group’s heaviest track to date, with distorted screams from emo rapper Lil Lotus and downpicked guitar chugs and incredibly passionate drumming from Cayle Sain. The unfortunate flaw with the track is it’s mix is very muddy and unrefined in comparison to the clear and full sound of the previous Seeyouspacecowboy tracks, and stylistically isn’t different enough from the band to stand out and is mostly forgettable compared to the rest of the EP.

The second track, admittedly suits the group a lot better, with a post-hardcore sound influenced by Underoath and grabs your attention with it’s soaring melodies an insanely nostalgic guitar tone and chorus. This song is the quintessential 2000s emo revival track and is the strongest cut the band has released so far in their relatively new discography. 

‘A Sure Disaster‘ is a solid split EP, and a leading charge in the growing 2000s emo revival movement. The EP is incredibly nostalgic on both sides and “bloodstainedeyes” is sure to become a scene classic in the time to come. Both artists showcased what is to come with their future releases and it appears both bands have a very bright future ahead of them. While the second half of the EP is a bit underwhelming compared to the first, the issue lies mainly in the production and mixing rather than the songwriting. All of the tracks on the release are extremely well written, with the aforementioned collab track being proof of both outfit’s talents and the promising return of emotionally charged heavy music. 

Watch the official music videos for “bloodstainedeyes” and “My Nightmares Would Do Numbers As Horror Movies” below.