Metalcore is a recent Metal genre, and even having tons of different musical influences since its birth, it’s opened for new musical experiments, and it’s not hard to expect such thing - unless the musician isn’t courageous to travel into unknown waters. It’s clear that the pioneers have influence on the new acts, but there are some new bands thar are really courageous. One of them is REFINER, as heard on the EP “Mistake”. Christopher says that “Mistake” is turned to what’s simple and important, leaving the quest for perfection aside. But here, even with a simpler approach on the band’s mix of Metalcore with Heavy Metal and uses of electronic effects (something inherited from Industrial Metal/Rock), one will have the presence of keyboards and even Gothic vocals, turning things slightly different from the usual.

It’s Metalcore with a different and unusual temper. The production isn’t as overloaded in terms of those greasy modern instrumental tunes, so things gained a different outfit, understandable, firm and really heavy. It’s distorted and sick (as a Metal album must be), has the essential modern touch of the genre, but it seems free of conceptions, just done what the songs needed. “Upside uʍop” is filled with many electronic effects and broken rhythms, and unusual shifts, but with Gothic clean vocals appearing and giving a difference flavor than the usual of the genre. On “Mistake” one can hear contrasts between violent Metalcore instrumental parts (especially due the guitar riffs) with charming and melancholic keyboards moments, boosting the creative feeling that permeates the songs (the melancholic feeling at the end of this one is something amazing). And for the fans, on the Bandcamp are instrumental versions of both songs as well.

Well, REFINER is maturing at a rate that seems to be shocking and surprising, so the next release must be a full-length. For now, enjoy “Mistake” as much as you can.