Empathetic - The Room Collapses Quietly

Labels: Zegema Beach Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 07 Aug 2026

Tracklist:

1. Intro

2. Culminate

3. Volatile

4. Yield

5. Interlude

6. Fracture Point

I feel like I'm in one of those periods where the day job is going really well. Things have been productive, opportunities are opening up, though that could mean less time and more stress. Anyway, corporate pep talk over, it's time for some Canadian emoviolence.

Vancouver's Empathetic released their new EP The Room Collapses Quietly via Zegema Beach Records in August, on a limited run of CDs, and also digitally. Empathetic are a pretty new group that features members from Thank You Driver and I think this is their debut release, apart from appearing on ZBR's latest Zampler cd comp. Heck, they've already shared stages with State Faults, Frail Body and Coup D'etat!

It’s a great feeling knowing that I’ve already written more than I did last month. It follows the work trend I was talking about in the intro bit. It’s also great being able to listen to Empathetic. Their ‘Intro’ to The Room Collapses Quietly is just glorious and unassuming. Classy instrumentation that leads into ‘Culminate’, which is a great mix of emoviolence, screamo and mathy sections. The vocals are the most violent instrument here, while the rest of the band deliver controlled, and not so controlled chaos.

I guess ‘Volatile’ would be an apt way to describe this release, as it progresses between the beautiful and the beastly. As a song, it threatens to spill over into crazed breakdowns at times but Empathetic show enough musical empathy (sorry!), to not let that happen. They do furious-grind well later on though! ‘Yield’ once again majors on their mathy-side, adding complex time-signatures and majestic melodies that compliment each other really well.

Those vocals cut deep too and you’d be forgiven for thinking that ‘Interlude’ would be exactly that, and you’d be correct to some extent. It’s gentler on the aggression and more forward on the melody, but the harsh vocals are never too far away. It works really well like this, especially as it’s the EP’s penultimate song. Closing with ‘Fracture Point’, Empathetic really throw caution to the wind and give the craziest account of themselves. Listen to it to understand what I mean.

It’s short, heavy, emotive and wondrous all at the same time. What an impact Empathetic have made here. We’re racing towards the end of 2026 faster than we realise (I’m already receiving 2027 release promos!) and no doubt people will be forming their EOY lists already. This has to be a contender of EPOTY.

You can stream and purchase this EP digitally from Zegema Beach Records below:-

Limited CD copies are also available from ZBR here:-

CAN/INTL - http://www.zegemabeachrecords.com/zegema-beach-releases/empathetic

USA - https://persistentvisionrecords.com/products/empathetic-the-room-collapses-quietly-cd

Empathetic Instagram - @empathetic.bc

Zegema Beach Records - @zegema_beach