Lyed - The Immolated Earth

Labels: Middle-Man Records/Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 18 Jul 2017

Tracklist:

1. Heaven Is Not Enough

2. Halos Of Asura

3. You Are With Me

4. When The Ashes Shape

5. Autobiography From Dead Ends

6. Morningstar

7. The Last Laugh

8. Velvet Nightfall

9. The Light That Swallowed The World

The latter half of my working day today left me thinking what life would be like if I was doing something different. For example, writing and running this blog full time, which would be so rad. Alas, it's something I've thought about many times before and it still feels unattainable. At least I still have it as an escape though. This evening I'm writing about the 2017 full-length from Texan screamo/metalcore  band Lyed, that was released via both Middle-Man Records and Zegema Beach Records. The Immolated Earth was Lyed's third release after their debut 2014 EP Between My Claws and their 2015 split with Joliette. They also released a split with Vientre in 2020 and are still active as far as I can tell (please correct me if I'm wrong).

I’m very much in the mood for some heavier, more metallic screamo this evening and the sub one-minute opener ‘Heaven Is Not Enough’ on The Immolated Earth hits the spot right away with a big hardcore/metalcore-like approach. The percussion and bass are a lot more full-on, the guitars and their riffs are chunkier while the vocals are definitely angry enough. ’Halos of Asura’ is pacier yet more melodic, with that noticeable American screamo vibe. More straightforward than I was expecting, but in a good way. Kinda in the same vein as some of the late 90’s/early 00’s metalcore-leaning bands I guess, like Since By Man and The Bled (thanks OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain!). 

Mathcore makes it’s play on the album too with plenty of time-signature changes on ‘You Are With Me’, which at times sounds industrial during the mid-section thanks to the blasting drums. ‘When The Ashes Shape’ is more emotional before it’s taken up a notch. Using that feeling to describe the song is still apt though. Lyed bring back the glory days (for me anyway) with ‘Autobiography From Dead Ends’. It reminds of days spent endlessly listening to Hopesfall, The Rise (who coincidentally were also from Austin, Texas) and Snapcase. Enough said I think!

The album’s second half begins with ‘Morningstar’, which acts as an instrumental interlude of sorts, with a brooding atmosphere that keeps your attention and your anticipation up before ‘The Last Laugh’, which is very different indeed. It’s very upbeat and hardcore-laden, but not in a tough guy way. It’s very honest and true, which is the same for the whole album. Penultimate song ‘Velvet Nightfall’ is really well put together for one with a more chaotic facade. Again, those chunkier riffs are present up front and it’s a great example of Lyed in full flow. I’m embarrassed to say that I missed The Immolated Earth when it was originally released (and not by choice). I think it was due to the old adage of too much music and not enough time.

It’s the album’s longest song ‘The Light That Swallowed The World’ that closes proceedings in a similar vein to ‘Velvet Nightfall’. The angular metalcore/screamo really comes to the fore here and the addition of clean vocal harmonies only make the enjoyment/nostalgia stronger. I read an article online earlier today about how people in their 30s are becoming disconnected with music and are less willing to search out new music. I couldn’t imagine it, which sounds obvious given that I’m still maintaining the same music blog I started when I was in my early 20s, but now at 36, while not as active as I was gig-wise I still actively seek out both new and old music I haven’t heard before. Lyed’s The Immolated Earth is one such body of music and it brings me great joy. I will be seeking out a physical copy too!

You can stream and purchase The Immolated Earth digitally on Lyed's bandcamp page below:-

Lyed - https://www.facebook.com/lyedtx

Physical copies are available from the labels below:-

Middle-Man Records - https://middlemanrecords.storenvy.com/products/lyed-the-immolated-earth-12

Zegema Beach Records CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/lyed 

Middle-Man Records - https://www.facebook.com/middlemanrecords

Zegema Beach Records - https://www.facebook.com/zegemabeachrecords