New Jersey has surprisingly been coming in hot and heavy when it comes to musical talent as of late. There could be no further proof to this statement then after hearing newly turned hard rock darlings Huxley’s self-titled EP Huxley. While the seasoned veterans have been in the metalcore scene for over 10 years, Huxley recently rebranded from the ashes of Endless Sacrifice to try something new. The band’s debut EP is steadily proving that a change in genres cannot only create a new and dynamic sound, but also shows that you don’t have to stay grounded in one genre when making music just because that’s where you started off at.
While the EP is comprised of 5 songs, each song is more impressive and intriguing then the last. Gems such as “Girl Thang” and “If I Ruled The World” stand out among the rest for its solid musicianship and memorable, hard-hitting lyrical work. Doug’s rough and effortlessly emotional vocal delivery also adds flavor and depth to these already amazing tracks. Hearing these two instant hits, one can place them among arena favorites such as Breaking Benjamin because of the crafty and heavy presence they bring to the table within this EP.
Overall, this is a well written EP that shows that they have conquered the and defied the odds of transitioning music genres while still adding vignettes on their heavy musical past into their new EP to create a unique,creative, and confident sound. This strong release is bound to open doors for them leading into the near and distant future and proves yet again that any band can change its colors if they are willing to put the time and effort into making a great record.
