GRYSCL - Heaven Knows

 

Labels: Self-Released/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Digital/Lathe

Release Date: 26 Jan 2014/26 Nov 2014

Tracklist:

1. Cassidy

2. Tulip

I promise that by next week I'll have some more 2021 release reviews up on here. Until then though, you'll have to do with music that's come before. I'm starting as I mean to go on by posting a new ZBR roster review in the first full week of the year. This one features the long sold out two-song lathe cut 7" from Memphis, Tennessee (USA) screamo band GRYSCL (also known as Greyscale). 

Today’s been a super weird end to the week. We've had quite heavy snow (for the UK) and I was able to finish work early. It left me in a bit of a celebratory mood until I had to run errands and then walking through the snow tired me out (because we’re not used to it). That being said, I was always going to write about something this evening and that something has ended up being the 2014 two-track release by US screamo band GRYSCL. 

Heaven Knows was released in very limited physical numbers and that’s a pity. EP opener ‘Cassidy’ is a mathy/jangly post-hardcore/screamo song with plenty of caustic energy and abrasive vocals. That’s quite hard to type when I’ve cracked open a weekend beer or two, but I’ve managed it!. That said, GRYSCL seem to have their instrumentation down to a tee and it’s very dreamy, while being explosive at the same time.

‘Tulip’ may sound like a Blink-182 era pop-punk song to begin with but don’t let that tone fool you, it’s anything but as GRYSCL injects off-kilter rhythms and riffs into their music. It’s wholly instrumental for the majority but it builds in volume and layers throughout, leading you to something much more. The spoken word vocals explode into screams and in doing so, carry a lot of emotion as well. The fact that their songs are also lengthier helps to paint a true picture, that gets brighter with every listen.

Okay so this release is over seven years old now but that doesn’t matter one bit. What matters is that music like this exists and bands like GRYSCL made it. Now more than even, music is one of the most important art forms we can rely/lean on. Embrace it and you’ll be much happier as a result. 

You can stream Heaven Knows and grab it as a name-your-price download below:-

GRYSCL - https://www.facebook.com/greyscaletn