‘Moancore’ progenitors Not Enough Space make room for themselves in the metalcore scene on fiery debut.
Sitting in the sweet spot between virality, parody and genuine musicianship, Not Enough Space's banger Primitive from last year was a hit on social media due to the small but key inclusion of a half-second long gasp. Since then, the Florida fivesome have been on lips across the world. With such wind behind them, it was only a matter of time until the inevitable release of a debut, and now Weaponize Your Rage is upon us to project caustic vitriol and self-empowerment in equal measure.
Opener Fire merely sets the scene for the title-track, which careens into life and sets a blazing inferno under the band. Sleek production matches with aggressive delivery for a professional and potent start, as the apoplectic Devil Left Me On Read abruptly arrives to decimate all comers. With lyrics covering the complete numbness that chronic depression can bring, even with all the baggage left atop the sufferer’s shoulders, it’s both a solemn look at a tragic mental health pandemic and a caustic serving of the titular weaponised rage.
New Age Cannibal and Waiting For You take to the less searing end of metalcore, showing the pop-punk-flecked roots of the band with an 8-bit melody, before Don’t Let Go marks a more serious and melancholic turn in the album. Kill Eat Repeat is about as heavy as things get, shooting blazing shrieks into the abyss, paired with beefy breakdowns and acidic lyrics decrying organised religion and base human selfishness.
For a band who were typecast by a half-second moan, Weaponize Your Rage is sure to expand their fanbase and let them step out of the corner they’ve been painted into. Whilst their sound doesn’t expand hugely beyond what you'd expect, it paints a clear picture of a band packed with potential, who are driven to succeed at any cost.
Verdict: 3/5
For fans of: The Plot In You, Silent Planet, Make Them Suffer
Weaponize Your Rage is released on September 12 via Thriller
