Better Than Mending and The ‘Uprooted’ EP.
Better Than Mending – Bristol, England, United Kingdom.
For our previous work on the band – Click Here.
Bristol Post-Hardcore four-piece Better Than Mending have recently released their third 2017 EP in the form of Uprooted, where the band’s in equal part jagged and melodic Post-Hardcore takes its cues from as much of the genres past and present as it can. The band’s first two releases Bedroom Demos and Treatments saw a band in a constant state of cathartic emotionality so it would be a shame to break that continuity.
Those who have seen the band live will know of the voice cracking vocals of James Steaton-Pritchard and the way you hear exactly what he wants you to as immersively as he wishes. Behind this the band’s stop-start Post-Hardcore classic is perfectly in sync with the constant contrast unequivocally key.
‘New Architecture’ is utterly brutal and even though I am now used to how direct this band are, I was still taken back. Vocally, again, the contrast is key with a newer third facet to Steaton-Pritchard’s vocals that stands between his hardest screams and his softest croons. The vocal output from behind is also an imposing presence, standing the track out as a hard one to follow.
With ‘Longer In The Tooth’ the band strip and simplify their Post-Hardcore musically for another track that dominates though its vocal output. Better Than Mending are impressive musically in that they don’t necessarily push anything ground breaking rather what they wish and they themselves adore. The band champion this in such a way that you can’t criticise them in any real light.
Again, I feel must mention this third facet to the main-line vocals as these newer songs would really not have the depth they do without it and moreover this also shows a band slowly but surely progressing and thats exciting.
The bands first release was heavier and harder with their second mildly lessening this rage. This third release however, is very much a balance of the two and has gone under a considerable level of refinement that it didn’t evidently at the time need. It didn’t need it, but certainly does need it now and I mean that as a compliment.
The final track of this EP, a release that garners only one real negative comment, closes with ‘A Familiar Forest’. The negative comment is very much the fact that this is a closing track, Better Than Mending may well be churning out the the top quality spread but in such away that it’s irritatingly teasing.
‘A Familiar Forest’ edges forward with slow and cumbersome movements with its quotability as through the roof as you had probably guessed it would be. The guitars soar and loom over simultaneously with hints at faster sound teased as the aggression subsides for a soundtrack of melodic vocals and gentle notes. This final track achieves the balance of the band’s sound as a whole while leaving room for further forays into either direction.
Better Than Mending are a right tease, but a good one.
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