After returning in 2023 after a 5 year hiatus with a 5-song EP in Paradise, Jamie’s Elsewhere are back with another new 5-song EP Alchemical. Fronted by the Of Mice & Men vocalist Aaron Pauley, Jamie’s Elsewhere offer a hybrid sound that meshes metalcore and posthardcore in an emotive mix that explores almost cinematic soundscapes and big metallic grooves. Alchemical offers a conceptual approach that makes for a short and cohesive package that is full of both hooks and energized riffing that’s easy to bite into.
The EP wastes no time in getting right into the heart of the matter. Lead-off track and single “Traveler” opens up with some big, heavy grooves that are coupled with a sprawling electronic underbelly, giving it a futuristic tone. At the same time, the emotive, clean sung chorus keeps it more grounded and immediately catchy. Setting the stage for the rest of the album, it starts off strong and leads immediately into “Hyper-Reactive,” which takes those big grooves and speeds them up into a driving tempo and upping the intensity. The song features a powerful breakdown later on that’s sure to get some heads moving before the urgent chorus latches on once more.
“Decay” all but rumbles on it’s opening, and digs in more claws on the chorus that the previous songs, which a split between harsh and clean vocals that works quite effectively. “Like Silver” once more ups the electronic end of things and feels like the most melodic of the bunch, offering quite a bit of emotion without sacrificing some of the bite that the band is capable of, which returns at full tilt for the closing title track as it again fuses the pulsating electronics and upbeat riffing to bring things into soaring territory to close the EP on a strong resonating note.
More than anything else, Alchemical is the type of EP that directly fuels a dopamine response. It’s a short and digestible burst of fun, catchy energy that’s heavy enough to get your head moving, but tosses cinematic and soaring hooks in along at every step of the way to ensure you will be hearing it over in your brain long after the music has stopped blaring.
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