LUNEThe Change Around Us & The Change In You

A cascading collision of modern metalcore and allusive lyrical fare, Melbourne’s LUNE come in swinging with sharpened claws on their brand new EP The Change Around Us & The Change In You.

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Marking the quartet’s first release under their new label home at Resist Records, The Change Around Us & The Change In You spiritually links to the group’s debut EP, 2020’s Ghost, while also shooting for the moon as LUNE firmly seek to stamp their brand into the new gen of Australian metalcore. But while undeniably tethered to their genre and their contemporaries on their sophomore new EP, LUNE also flourish in their bustling textures, fierce delivery, and expressive lyricism – and there’s inescapable moments that will grasp you as you journey through the EP’s six tracks. 

It’s little secret to those who have been following the LUNE journey to date that this is definitely a band fond of embracing angst and melodious rage with open arms. And from the moment The Change Around Us & The Change In You opens with Progeny, ferocity takes the spotlight via relentless drumwork, blazing riffs, and a delightfully unholy display of emotion and rage from vocalist Nathaniel Smith. 

Circling a caustic abyss in the opening moments of following track Letting Go, LUNE also flex layers of menacing synths amid rasping choruses and Smith’s cries of“No one’s coming to save you”, before things take a simmering turn on Left Behind; a beseeching, occasionally screeching, and upheaving track that also seamlessly weaves in the vocal stylings of Garrett Russell of Silent Planet fame in the track’s bridge. With Russell fresh off a brand new release himself, there’s a sense of excitement and vigour as Russell and Smith, notably along with guitarists David Freeland and Krys Smith, balance chaos and serenity alongside thematic melancholia.

With highly personal yet deeply universal themes and moments of truly striking technicality, The Change Around Us & The Change In You is a cathartic and caustic collection of songs from a band who continue to turn heads in the heavy music realms; and for good reason.

Sprinkling some progressive flair into proceedings, Winter Sun sets its throttle firmly to beast mode as LUNE pummel you with riffs, hooks, and a devilish bounce undoubtedly capable of conjuring a sweaty mosh pit in the blink of an eye. And closing out with an ambient reprieve, Winter Sun leads into penultimate track Memory Replays; a sharp and occasionally swaying outing that oozes with melodic choruses and oscillating onslaughts, with an equally memorable guitar solo popping up momentarily for good measure. And offering one final reprieve via clean guitars before launching into thicker territory, closing track Healers is less angry and more a sturdy, morose journey that closes out lyrically brandishing the EP’s title: “This is the change around us, and the change in you”.

Teaming up with Jamie Marinos producing and Buster Odeholm mixing and mastering, LUNE have amassed a team around them who truly seems to get who they are and where they want to be on their second EP. With highly personal yet deeply universal themes and moments of truly striking technicality, The Change Around Us & The Change In You is a cathartic and caustic collection of songs from a band who continue to turn heads in the heavy music realms; and for good reason. LUNE may not be entirely reinventing the metalcore wheel at this point, but they certainly know how to steer it into something genuinely memorable. 

STANDOUT TRACKS: Progeny, Letting Go, Winter Sun
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