REVIEW: Counterparts – A Eulogy for Those Still Here [2022]
Artist: Counterparts
Album: A Eulogy for Those Still Here
Counterparts need no real introduction. A well-established band within the heavy music community for over a decade now, Counterparts’ metamorphosis from Prophets into the more melancholic, murky and aggressive sounds abundant on Nothing Left to Love and—most recently—A Eulogy for Those Still Here has been remarkable, to say the very least. Sacrificing the overt melodic hardcore influence on Prophets and the band-abhorred/crowd-adored The Current Will Carry Us for nihilistic, dissonant and jarring metalcore a la late 2000s, the band’s most recent outings have cemented them as stalwarts in the ever-changing dynamic of the international “-core” community. A Eulogy for Those Still Here is Counterparts distilled; an enigma in the sense that it miraculously manages to follow perfectly in the footsteps of the practically impeccable Nothing Left to Love. Laden with both lurid aggression and ethereal, atmospheric touches, the band’s seventh studio album is their most comprehensive and ambitious release, but also the most focused and authentically “themselves” to date. In a strange time where social media is abuzz with the band and their social media presence, there is strikingly little conversation over what stands as Counterparts’ magnum opus, and a strong contender for one of metalcore’s strongest contributions to an already incredible year.
A Eulogy for Those Still Here is a unique experience for a variety of reasons—however when it comes to Counterparts’ incredible discography, Eulogy was the first of the band’s records (since Current at least) that didn’t click with me immediately after the first listen. Don’t get me wrong—I loved it—but there wasn’t that same feeling like I got at the end of Nothing Left to Love or You’re Not You Anymore. I didn’t know what to make of it. With each listen though, Eulogy gained more depth and more impact. Songs I’d at first written off (mostly because I’m nothing more than a breakdown junkie with a laptop and dictionary) like “Skin Beneath a Scar” and “Soil II” rapidly became my favorite, and the band’s delicate balance between atmosphere and unbridled aggression made it apparent to me that this is Counterparts’ most balanced, refined and focused album to date. Whether its bouncy, energetic percussion or the ferocious, dissonant chords that make songs like “Bound to the Burn” or “Flesh to Fill Your Wounds” instant Counterparts Classics or the slow build and bloom of “Soil II” and the marvelous journey the listener embarks on with “A Mass Grave of Saints,” the band use an incredible armamentarium of instrumental styles throughout Eulogy. Where Counterparts’ diversity is a huge strength, there’s still no question that the band are at their finest when channeling their depressive tendencies into gut wrenching metalcore. “Whispers of Your Death” shines here, as does “What Mirrors Right Reflect,” both of them showcase the band’s monstrous percussion and dizzying fretwork working in excellent tandem. Here, immense breakdowns are king, with scathing riffs and flashy percussion giving the listener even more to love.
However, to speak of “Whispers of Your Death” is to speak of the lyricism and vocal expertise Counterparts—and more specifically frontman Brendan Murphy—boast. Where the band’s instrumentation is absolutely top notch for metalcore (contemporary or otherwise), the combination of Murphy’s lyricism and vocal prowess are what make them one of the genre’s strongest bands. Where “Whispers of Your Death” needs no explanation as to how or why it’s such an impactful track, “Unwavering Vow” serves as the aggressive spiritual successor to “Your Own Knife,” harnessing Murphy’s rage—just as the climactic album closer “A Mass Grave of Saints” sees his singing take center stage alongside his gritty screams. Admittedly, incredible lyricism is nothing new for Counterparts, but Murphy’s improved vocal dynamism and variety makes Eulogy stand out even more among the band’s prior releases—something that isn’t immediately obvious, but sinks in the more bands listen to “Sworn to Silence” or “A Mass Grave of Saints.” Whether its with a new emphasis on his singing or a broader range of low bellows and shrill, primal shouts, Murphy’s mind and voice both shine on Eulogy.
I wasn’t sure where A Eulogy for Those Still Here would land after my first listen—but the more time I spent with the record, the more I fell in love with it and realized what an immense testament to Counterparts’ growth and skill it is. With an immense, ruthless heaviness enveloping a more melodic core, Eulogy is Counterparts at the most in-tune with themselves they’ve ever been, and stands as a strong contender for their finest record to date, and one of 2022’s finest records to date as well.
10/10
For Fans of: Dying Wish, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Misery Signals, Vatican
By: Connor welsh
