Many Eyes – Combust
Buffalo hard rockers Many Eyes return with Combust, their new explosive, yet all-too-familiar sounding EP that will leave you seeing and hearing double.
Behind the band is the legendary Buffalo vocalist, Keith Buckley, who formed Many Eyes after the very ugly and very public breakup of veteran hardcore favorites Every Time I Die back in 2022. As ETID went their separate ways, Buckley stepped out of the shadows and surrounded himself with the talents of guitarist Alan Hague, bassist Sean Vallie and drummer Nick Bellmore. The four-piece debuted with a series of singles leading up to their 2024 freshman full-length, The Light Age. On Combust, Buckley and crew lay down four new tracks that build upon their wayward metallic hard rock repertoire. With a volatile fury of hardcore and metal influences, strap yourself in for grungy rhythmic changes intertwined with down-tuned riffs, chunky basslines, wrecking ball drums, and earsplitting screams.
The groovy and spiteful “House of Bad Taste” sets the stage and revels in these extreme, chaotic elements. A scuzzy, pulsating melody drones over stumbling drums while Buckley, performing with a chip on his shoulder, hurls manic, sardonic accusations such as “everyone is a cop” and “everyone is a witch.” The singular singer proves he hasn’t lost a step and sounds better than ever while delivering these caustic and cavalier outbursts. As the song progresses, its busy structure crumbles with a crushing bridge and breakdown that collapses under the weight the band’s megaton vocals and instrumentation.
Up next is the powerhouse single, “The Clock Behind All Other Clocks.” This ripper has something for everyone: palm muting for the metal heads, circle pit pickups for the punk rockers, and skull-crushing breakdowns for the hardcore kids. Whatever you’re into, you’ll remember it for Buckley’s scream-a-long lyrics such as “blow it up and walk away” set against lead-heavy, knuckle-dragging halftime sections. It’s a Jackson Pollack of bruising audio brutality you don’t want to skip.
“Acid Test” hits hard and fast from its first drop on your eardrums. Buckley screams his head off over verses that bring you closer to the brink of insanity as each progression gets more ferocious and more complex. The bronzy ping of Bellmore’s ride cuts through the anarchy in a melodic chorus that grounds this electric track. It’s a great example of the impressive synchronization and balance between the bandmates seen consistently throughout Combust.
Closing out the release is “Counting Teeth,” one of the more unique songs on the record. Like a twisted musical knot, Hague’s busy guitars noodle over Bellmore’s clashing cymbals and Vallie’s diesel engine bass before unspooling into a satisfying hard rock chorus. What stands out above all are Buckley’s rarely-used, yet impactful, clean vocals. This feature will make you wish the singer utilized the style more as it adds a refreshing juxtaposition to what starts to become a repetitive sound and structure by the end of the EP.
Overall Combust is a solid, tinnitus-inducing record. The recordings are clean and polished with each band member sounding fantastic and holding their own, especially given the notoriety of it’s lead member. While each song is loaded with twists and turns that keep the music fresh and interesting, it’s hard not to compare the group’s songwriting and sound to Every Time I Die. If you’re a fan of ETID, there’s a lot to like about this EP, however, there’s a case to be made about the four-piece taking more risks to differentiate themselves from the inevitable comparison. While Many Eyes is still in its infancy, the band has plenty of room to grow into its own identity, even as Buckley tries to shed his former one.
Combust is out now via Jamey Jasta’s (Hatebreed) Perseverance Media Group on major streaming platforms including Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify.
Categorised in: Album of the Week
This post was written by Matt Burgerhoff