Since their debut album in 2019, Chamber have made a formidable name for themselves on the hardcore scene and live circuit, featuring all the stand-out features any band wants to showcase to become one of the upcoming bands of the genre. “No-one needs us to be the pretty band.” states guitarist, Gabe Manuel, talking about the influences for the latest release.
The band are clearly ready to take the next step with their sound, aiming for their third album A Love To Kill For to be their most chaotic and loud, and as anyone who has listened to the band’s back catalogue can tell you, this will not be an easy feat for the act. Featuring members of Kublai Khan and Boundaries, the band may just have released the heaviest hardcore release of the year so far.
Where most bands will have a gradual build-up with some stringed instrumentation, Chamber have gone with the opposite and pushed you straight in like using a blunt object. Jacob Lilley’s vocals blasting down the mics as the guitars launch into a cacophony of panic chords and chugs, creating the perfect recipe for mayhem to be unleashed on the live circuit. It is clear from the start, the band were not kidding about making this album the most chaotic and loud album so far. As quickly as the song descends on the listener it just as quickly leaves a minute later, utilised as the perfect taster for what the album has yet to unleash.
The band do not let up for the following three-track run of ‘Retribution’, ‘At My Hands’ & ‘Tremble’ is a trinity of pure mayhem. Despite the vocals at various points being lost in the deluge of distortion and blast beats, the ferality of Lilley’s vocals remain centrestage of the performances.
You can really see where the scene’s influences have left their marks, vaguely reminiscent panic chords from early Code Orange features. Knocked Loose can be almost heard in the breakdowns. Rather than the cynical view of them taking on bits and pieces of what’s popular, it’s clear that the band has seen what works well live and gone full steam with it. The end result is clear as day and it has translated perfectly for the band.
Just when you believe the act has hit the ceiling for the level of anger and heaviness they can produce, they just find a way to make the drums hit a bit harder, make the guitars make your hair stand on end a little bit more. In the case of track ‘Devoured’ Matt Honeycutt of Kublai Khan does just that, displaying his animalistic ferocity behind the mic. One of those moments where you can envision the pits encircling the band like a maelstrom of bodies.
Regardless of having only released their debut under five years ago, Chamber were determined and set out to make one of the heaviest-sounding hardcore albums of the year. They may have accomplished this feat. Despite some production issues with the vocals falling into the mix, A Love To Kill For is an album that will make you want to start circle pits in your bedroom, let alone the halls when the band hit the road.
If you are anyway interested in the hardcore punk scene, Chamber are one of the key bands to be looking out for over the next five years. If they can do this now, just wait to see what they’re capable of in the years to come.
Buy the album here:
7 / 10
CHARLIE HILL
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