Where some vocalists might come off as simply going through the motions when it comes to singing (or growling, grunting, etc.), Jack Murray instead regurgitates sincere, raw, and impassioned words throughout the entire forty-four minutes of 156/Silence’s Narrative (Sharptone Records).

The two-headed monster of ‘Another Loss’ and closer ‘Live To See A Darker Day” expertly prove that notion. The former sees Murray’s tortured vocals in the bridge for an overall evocative, heart-wrenching song. The latter just barely contains the impactful screams which are helped along by a rugged, raw riff.

The five-piece metalcore outfit – rounded out by guitarist Jimmy Howell, guitarist/vocalist Ryan Wilkinson, drummer Kyle O’Connell, and  bassist Lukas Booker – hint at inspirations of industrial music as the eleven songs come and go. Even so, the record is combative, vibrant, and sandblaster rough. There are still hooky sections, but Murray descends into sounding like he’s lying on the sofa opposite a therapist, devoted to pouring every last bit of his heart into the tracks.

Admittedly, the first playthrough had this author a bit worried about the direction Narrative was taking, but it was clear after a few cycles that 156/Silence were aiming for a modern-day take on the genre: unevenly paced, disheveled vocal lines and difficulty to predict. Gone are the days of cleanly sung choruses and formulaic structure. Then again, maybe that’s not the worst thing in the world. 

It’s also an apt title for the record. At times, it does play out like a narrative, but it’s not always cut and dry or by the book, because when delving into the darkest recesses of one’s mind, things aren’t always organized and linear.

Regardless, the dedicated showing from the front man solidifies the album’s stability as a hard-hitting affair. The rhythm section bolsters the composition and exhibits a keen ability to alter from hectic to more mellow. 

Buy the album here: https://bfan.link/for-all-to-blame

7 / 10

MATT COOK