Your Spirit Dies – It Is Well… (EP)
Release Date: 22nd May 2026
Label: MNRK Heavy
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Genre: Metallic Hardcore, Metalcore.
FFO: Poison The Well, Malevolence, Orthodox.
Review By: Ross Bowie
Hot of the heels of their debut album My Gnawing Pains Will Never Rest, which had old-school metalcore-heads like myself, rejoicing that a new and young band wanted to sound like Perseverance rather than That’s The Spirit, Your Spirit Never Dies are back with a new three track EP, showing that they are showing absolutely no signs of slowing down and that sanding some of those edges off is absolutely out of the question.
When putting together a body of work, one of the biggest questions is “How should we open it?” a smooth fade in? Some light touches of ambience with some fuzz building tension? Well, Your Spirit Dies, take a sledgehammer right to your face like prime Triple H. Wasting no time, Starless opens with blast beats and those fat grooves, the debut executed so well. The riffs have that classic metal chug, slithers of dissonance and plenty of breaks to really let the china cymbal sing. The vocals sound like vocalist Brandon Byres hasn’t spoken since their last tour, and he has all the pent-up air that needs forced out of his lungs with every word. The drums are as rapid as they are punishing, and the breakdowns are simplistic but incredibly effective. It is a perfect opener to carry on from the band’s last effort.
When Peace, Like A River works as a dark, uneasy pause between the EP’s two more intense tracks. Its warped production, ghostly choral sounds, and slow-building static create an atmosphere that feels disturbing throughout. Instead of giving the listener a moment to breathe, the song deepens the sense of tension and anxiety running through the project. Even with its understated approach, it leaves a strong impression thanks to its cinematic and unsettling mood.
And then, as quickly as it started, the EP is over, with only two proper tracks. Whispers In Omen is another ripper. It’s fast but then peels the layers and pace back, so the breakdowns can have maximum impact. The production is thick but really lets every element shine, you can hear everything the band want you to, but you are still left with plenty of grime under your fingernails. The song utilises tricks we all know and love. A heavy, hard-hitting breakdown and then slowing that down. A line of spoken word before the punishing top string comes in, some intricate clean guitar work over the breakdown and who can forget the distorted vocals causing carnage all over the track. This EP’s only real flaw is that it’s only two tracks because the band certainty sound like they have more fire in their belly, and they have confirmed themselves that this all came together in a matter of days, so it’s a shame that there’s not more of it.
You might see the phrase metalcore and wince, the genre has become heavily diluted in recent years and bands have been swapping what were once iconic riffs for trying to make as many weird noises with their pitch shifter pedals as possible. But, if (like me) welcomed bands like Poison The Well and Converge returning and rounding up a lot of the younger bands, beating them up and stealing their lunch money for good measure then Your Spirit Dies is a band for you. Effortlessly cool, heavy yet groovy riffs and a punishing performance from all involved. With the way these guys are going we can only hope they have even more new music in the tank.
(4 / 5)
