EP: “Paper Chain” by Between Waves

Last year saw frustrated Welsh quintet Between the Waves release their debut EP “Paper Chain”. With the intent to bring diversity to the UK metal scene, they have created an EP that brings a range of styles. Formed from a series of bands this five-piece have banged heads and fleshed out a bevvy of tracks, that resulted in “Paper Chain”.

The EP opens with the gentle title track, Helen’s vocals draw you into their world.

Building on this opening comes “Revelation”, where the power starts to get turned on as the vocals begin to get edgy. While the guitars take a heavier sound as well as some strong riff work, this quintet work perfectly together.

“Place To Fall” moves to a more sedate place, well at least to start with! The track soon expands as the guitars and drums kick it up a notch.

“Deceiver” delivers a punchy rhythm that catches you off guard as the guitars whittle away at you, while the vocals sit perfectly with all of this. With a gentle break about halfway through Helen’s vocals soar; while the guitars come back in, culminating in a heavier riff as the vocals ring out.

As “Deceiver” ends abruptly the closing track “Fathom” gently closes proceedings, even as the energy builds the guitar work brings you back down again. This cathartic track just leaves you wanting more as the lyrics call out “I was a mess, I will confess”.

There is a whole lot of potential and range in this 5-piece, and let’s see what a whole album could give us!