You might not have heard of London's Perpetual Paradox, but you should definitely give them a listen. Although ostensibly a groove-laden death-thrash/core outfit, there's a lot more going on here than that already enticing description might suggest. The 5 tracks on their new EP May Misery Befall You deliver a killer combination of wiry, off-kilter lead-work that reminds me of Psycroptic (except without the Nazi merch) along with and added progressiveness à la Rivers of Nihil, the crunch of Lamb of God and brutality of Fit for an Autopsy. It's a potent concoction to be sure and one of the more exciting "new" artists I've come across this year. Check out their ferocious "Source of Hate" below, and keep reading to see what other ingredients go into making such a devastatingly delicious sound.
Jorge (Guitar)
Lamb of God was definitely the band that made me realise I absolutely love groove. I used to stay awake on Sunday nights to watch MTV's Headbanger’s Ball and when I first heard "Set To Fail" there, it absolutely made me go crazy!The riff, the aggressiveness, the drums, the vocals…I was like “I wanna write shit like this”!From thrash to metalcore and later on deathcore, groove was always what got me hyped with metal. Mark Morton and Will Adler are absolute riff beats and were a major influence in my playing style!
Adrian (Vocals)
For me it goes back to when I was just a teenager, listening to what everyone else was listening to, trying to figure out life. Then one friend showed me "A Little Piece of Heaven" by Avenged Sevenfold, and the spark was lit.That song was on repeat day and night. The theme, orchestras, trumpets and vocals were unlike anything I had heard before. It made me realise heavy music could be so much more than just guitars, bass and drums, and that atmosphere and arrangement could be just as important as the riffs. That’s probably why on most Perpetual Paradox tunes, whenever there’s orchestras or samples, I’m usually behind them, or at least have been involved.
"My Curse" by Killswitch Engage made me want to pursue vocals. I became obsessed with the contrast between warm, melodic vocals and brutal screams. Howard Jones’ vocals were out of this world and I remember thinking, “fuck, I wish I could sound like that.” I already liked singing when I was alone—doing chores, in the shower—so I started taking it seriously and kept gaining the confidence to develop my chops.
Then came the 2020s deathcore era. Bands like Lorna Shore, or songs like "Death Empress" by Disembodied Tyrant/Synestia, changed how I looked at heavy music. I loved the filthy breakdowns, while Sleep Token became a huge anchor for the clean, atmospheric side of my vocals. Combining that beautiful, warm voice with something fucking disgusting is probably one of the biggest things that shaped how I write for Perpetual Paradox today.
Ollie (Guitar)
For a long time I didn’t really listen to music because I couldn’t find anything I liked. But then a friend showed me Metallica’s Ride the Lightning (1985) and everything changed. I dove headfirst into the macabre world of metal, not long after which I discovered its more extreme genres and the bands behind them, like Death and The Black Dahlia Murder.
Although a thrasher at heart, I branched out early, in doing so discovering the genres and bands that would define what I listen to and write now: Bleed from Within, Lorna Shore, August Burns Red, Fit for an Autopsy, and Decapitated, to name a few. I try not to let myself stick to one genre as it’s a detriment and a waste to do so, so anything I think sounds good, I’ll listen to and find a way to emulate in my own music. More recently I’ve been getting into bands like Nails, Converge and End, which has had a notable impact on how I write and approach the equipment I use to do so. I think I’m far from done discovering and learning about metal and I’m loving how it’s shaping the music I write for Perpetual Paradox.
Harry (Drums)
As much as I’d love to write about my musical upbringing, I don’t think many people would take much interest in the finer details, so here's the top line. My favourite bands, and the bands that really got me to where I am today, include Slipknot, PeelingFlesh, Deathgrips, Chelsea Grin, Thy Art is Murder, Korn, Primus and Infant Annihilator. To anyone who hasn't checked out the drummers in these bands, please do, and you’ll know exactly why I play the way I do. Simply put, the bands and music I was brought up on have taught me everything I know: Hit hard, be aggressive and treat your snare like it owes you money …mine still hasn’t paid me yet.