Onewaymirror - Everything Wants Me To Write In Cursive 7"

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Vinyl/Digital

Release Date: 08 Jul 2024

Tracklist:

1. Everything Wants Me To Write In Cursive

2. This Is My Way Of Saying Hello

3. Fourth Song

4. First Song

5. The Difference Between Said And Done

Having reviewed their Feb 2024 split CD with fellow Californians Gxllium earlier this year, it's crazy to see that Onewaymirror already have new music recorded and out there. I didn't get time to write about this EP last Sunday as planned, so I'm making up for it now. Everything Wants Me To Write In Cursive was released earlier this month on 500 7"s, across three different variants by Zegema Beach Records. It features five quick-as-you-like screamo/emoviolence songs and it backs up what I mentioned in my last review about the good health of the screamo community right now.

After this write-up I’ll be exploring some different sounds and sub-genres for a little bit. After all, you can’t have too much of a good thing right? Onewaymirror (as with Spoiled the other night) are definitely leading me to overindulge a little. This EP starts with the title track ‘Everything Wants Me To Write In Cursive’, which is a proper emo intro track if I ever heard one! Gentle and melodic guitar joined by an emotive, layered spoken-word sample (though it could be actual vocals).

‘This Is My Way Of Saying Hello’ is the first song that explodes with the full Onewaymirror sound and it’s glorious. The mix of clean and harsh vocals don’t mislead in any way, while the percussion and guitars throw some serious low-end shapes. ZBR described it as an “emo-violence/chug-fest” and that description is spot on. These songs are fast and short, unsurprisingly. ‘Fourth Song’ comes next with an absolute assault on the senses. Raw and gritty heaviness that pulls influence from hardcore as much as it does grind. It’s actually the EP’s longest song, if that means anything.

‘First Song’ follows immediately next with metallic, dissonant metalcore-style riffs coupled with Onewaymirror’s violent blueprint. This is actually the EP’s penultimate song, so please don’t be confused. It’s an absolute blinder in truth. Those metalcore-style riffs are brief in nature and give way to some pretty epic grind towards the end. Closing with ‘The Difference Between Said And Done’, Onewaymirror go all out to demonstrate just how intense they can be musically. It’s definitely extreme, but in the best possible way. 

I know that genre and sub-genre explosions are cyclical. I could reference several over the last ten years but the current influx of post-hardcore/screamo adjacent bands (and people/labels pushing them) is really positive. I appreciate that I am one of those people but I also see no problem with that, apart from one exception; the UK seems to be underrepresented. Maybe it’s because I’m unaware, in which case I need to change that.

You can stream and purchase the EP as a name-your-price download via ZBR below:-

Physical 7" copies are also available to purchase above, though quantities are extremely limited.

Onewaymirror - https://onewaymirror.bandcamp.com

You can also buy copies from the stores below:-

Zegema Beach Records - CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/onewaymirror / USA - https://zbrusa.com/collections/zbr-releases/products/onewaymirror

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