Rayleigh - Last Word

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 11 Mar 2019

Tracklist:

1. Blood Letter

2. Last Mechanical Art

3. Sun Stealer

4. Diamondback

I'm trying to fit three more reviews in before the end of 2024 and I reckon I can hit that target. This review of the 2019 EP Last Word by Canadian Screamo band Rayleigh is the first of that trio, as well as being my final ZBR roster review of the year. Last Word was Rayleigh's final EP and it sandwiched a trio of tape releases that started with their self-titled EP in 2013 and was followed by their 2018 album 'If History'. 

This holiday period feels very strange given that xmas in the UK has fallen during a mid-week this year. I’m back doing the day job tomorrow followed by a weekend, then two more days at work followed by the New Year celebrations. No rest for the wicked I guess! No time to ponder though as I have a review to write and I need to keep up some sort of momentum. 

Rayleigh did a great job of keeping the tempo high on their final EP, if opener ‘Blood Letter’ is anything to go by. It’s made up for percussion/bass that fits well amongst the instrumentation of any powerviolence band, while the feedback-laden guitar work lends a heap of dissonance that helps form a backdrop to the piercing vocals. ’Last Mechanical Act’ follows immediately after with exactly the same approach, except this time Rayleigh peppers their heavy sound with mathy and melodic guitar riffs. It’s difficult at times to pin them down to an exact sub-genre, which is no doubt what Rayleigh would have wanted. 

Third and penultimate song ‘Sun Stealer’ is also the shortest on the EP, yet it’s also the most introspective musically (if that were possible here), as Rayleigh moves between chaotic post-hardcore and gentle instrumentation at the flick of a switch. Closing with ‘Diamondback’, there’s no immediate sign of it being the end of Rayleigh’s journey musically. It’s position as the EP’s heaviest song hints at a dynamic that was never fully realised.

As parting gifts go, Last Word hits with all the feels, as well as a whole heap of pent up anger. In a day and age where long dormant (considered dead) bands are re-awakening, there’s plenty of room for Rayleigh to comeback. If not, then at least their music is still preserved for the ages.

You can stream and purchase Last Word digitally from Rayleigh below:-

Rayleigh - https://www.facebook.com/rayleigh666

Tape copies from ZBR are sold out.

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