SAILING BEFORE THE WIND is a Melodic Metalcore band from Tokyo, Japan. "Immemorial" is the group's latest EP, released independently on August 20, 2021.

I think this EP may have made me a Melodic Metalcore convert! Sure, I like some bands like KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, but when it comes to Metalcore, I tend to enjoy bands like DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, CONVERGE and HATEBREED more so than AVENGED SEVENFOLD, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE or PARKWAY DRIVE. But this EP really blew me away! Kosuke and Daisuke's riffs are instantly memorable and hook-driven without sounding cheesy, which is no easy feat. Kneeya's voice is unbelievable, producing brutal mouth sounds with utter ease. Finally, Bitoku's bass playing is driving and distinctive, and Hiroki's drumming is head-spinning technical and fast.

The production on this EP is fantastic too! I think one of the things that I've always appreciated the most about Melodic Metalcore, despite not being much of a fan of the genre, is that the bands in this style really make the most of recording technology innovations. However, one thing that drives me away from those other bands is that it often feels like they use studio software as a crutch to distract from a lack of ideas or mediocre riffs. That is not the case here. The tracks could easily survive on their own without the little swells and reversed snippets of audio that are peppered throughout the songs, but they work even better with them in there.

It's hard to pick highlights from such a great EP but I'll do my best. "Decaders," the opening track, is so good and features such heavy riffs that I wish it was longer; "Sail Away" is a real headbanger of a song, with an instantly memorable guitar melody line and a bone crushing drum groove from Hiroki; "Cross the Ocean" has the feel of an AT THE GATES track with ten times the attitude and more interesting melodies; "Break the Silence" is probably the thrashiest number on this album while blending a certain funk element in as well; and "Misguided Sunrise" is an extremely heavy track that brings the EP to a close brilliantly. Wait, I just talked about all the tracks! I guess it was too hard to pick a highlight after all.

Overall, this is an amazing EP! SAILING BEFORE THE WIND still sound fresh ten years in and this EP is proof in the pudding. Thank you, SAILING BEFORE THE WIND, for converting me to Melodic Metalcore, and I look forward to hearing more of your releases!