Having just started a major tour with Contra also in tow, Wisconsin metalcore newcomers Growing are also embarking on a huge milestone as a band, with their new full-length The Gauntlet available for streaming. The Gauntlet is the band’s first album since 2015’s Temples EP, and it’s packed full of melodic, yet ferocious modern metalcore that is equally at home next to the heavier bands of the genre as it is next to the more accessible ones.
The record gets off to a great start with the in-your-face opener, “Inner Space”. The song is a harbinger of what’s to come, and the other notable aspect of the record is the 6-part “Gauntlet” series of songs, which is a rarity to pull off effectively. Luckily, Growing executes this with a veteran’s touch, and of particular note is the really solid drumming that anchors the record overall.
The Gauntlet is a record we recommend to anyone who’s into modern metalcore. While it won’t necessarily gain fans outside of this niche, it is a rock-solid body of work that’s over in 30 minutes. Just right for the album not to get stale, but enough to leave those who like the record wanting more.
