The Horrors Return After 4 Years
English quintet The Horrors have released new music four years after the release of the 2021 EP 'Against The Blade'. Their recent EP is titled 'More Than Life' and features four new tracks of their upcoming studio album 'Night Life', which is due for release on March 21st, not long now, folks. It's produced by Yves Rothman, whose notable production credits include Blondshell, Bartees Strange, Claude, and early Conan Gray.
The EP opens with the title track 'More Than Life', which is intrinsically industrial with its scratchy beginning, which leads up to heavy droning guitar tones and punchy vocals that drench the listener in the sonic holy waters of post-punk. What more could you want? Not to mention, the drums provide a consistent rhythm throughout, allowing us to ride this sonic wave amongst the synths, which appear midway through the track, oscillating upwards and downwards for the remainder, meeting a crescendo at the end.
The second track is 'Lotus Eater', and it is immediately different from its predecessor - riddled with synths that make it sound like it's been ripped straight from an abandoned warehouse rave in the '90s. It couldn't be more reminiscent of trance/house if it tried. The synths are bassy and deep, the vocals distorted, this was made for the club.
'Trial By Fire' is the fan favourite of the EP - it has a sleazy twang to it and sounds like New York City in the early '00s. If you're a fan of vocalists like Julian Casablancas of Strokes fame or sleaze-pop newcomer The Dare, this will be right up your alley. Sonically, it is similar to the first track, 'More Than Life'.
The final track is 'The Silence That Remains', and it is eerie as fuck. This is not a track to play by yourself in dark, secluded areas, or alternatively, it is the perfect track to play by yourself in dark, secluded areas - if you're a sadist. It sort of reminds me of tracks such as 'Shadow Moses' by Bring Me The Horizon.
Whilst 'Trial By Fire' appears to be the fan favourite of the EP, I found the most enjoyment out of 'Lotus Eater', which is impressive as it comes in at a whopping 7 minutes and 13 seconds.
