From their PR website, “Residing in Kansas City, MO, A LIGHT WITHIN debuted their first EP, “Preface,” in 2013 that fused raw, aggressive sounds with progressive post-metal cues, the band carved a unique space for themselves in the Midwest heavy music scene. This was followed by “Body Matter” in 2015 and the critically acclaimed “Epilogue” in 2018. 2022 saw the outfit kick off a new era of singles offerings as they work their way to a full-length album.” I can’t tell if this is a reissue of their 2013 album or not, but it only has three songs. I any case, let’s get down to it.

“Morning” is the first song, and it opens with a lot of atmosphere, and tension, building to smooth and melancholy vocals. The feeling I get when listening to this song is like being trapped between two worlds…unsettling. Layers of emotion are added along the way, until the listener is swept away in them. “Grim” is another grey song, and by grey I mean that your emotions feel muted…not really sad, or angry, but somewhere in between, and ready to give up. The build is again the best part of the song, and it either means things are crashing down upon you or you have gotten up to fight.

“Sixes” closes the three-track EP, and it’s filled with mystery, as is a prominent feature on the album. The band closes off some of their music so that the listener has to work for it, while other parts are there for the taking. It’s an odd, but pleasing paradox. Overall, through only three songs, the band has built an excellent base that they can build on. There is raw emotion, mystery, swelling and retraction, and the songs seem to come alive. This is a band that I want to hear more from.