Thechopstickdrummer
I treasure observing the development of young bands. By “young”, I mean the duration of the band’s existence and the youthfulness of its members. The Larches, an English take on sludge metal-meets-alternative rock, is one of these projects yet to break free from the shackles of their hometown, and I love that. Forming in 2021 near Middlesbrough, The Larches hooked me in with a name inspired by a genus of Northern conifers and a sludgy yet passionate attitude present in their upcoming EP, Nihilistic Majesties. This sophomore release exhibits the band’s gradual shift towards a more industry-ready visual aesthetic, while still recording endearing homemade music videos, and while part of me never wants The Larches to leave that amateur aesthetic behind, it’s time to give the band a bigger spotlight. However, in the spotlight comes major criticism.
Voltaire touches on this very subject in his letter to actress Mademoiselle Quinault: “The public is a ferocious beast; one must either chain it up or flee from it.” The Larches mustn’t flee from it, but Nihilistic Majesties, being a rough second recording, may unleash the beast. I don’t mean to be too pandering or reliant on the project’s active emergence as a talking point, but it’s clear by the quality of production that more relevant labels are hesitant to sign the quintet. Nihilistic Majesties is best described as a five-song garage recording that satisfies the metal stalwart who thrives on rawness and stripped-away mindsets. For listeners like myself who hold a work’s production to a higher standard, it’s a passable experience and not worth hanging on to.
Take the opening of “Drought,” the longest song of the EP. The atmospheric segment is slightly disjointed, but presents the best of vocalist Noah Annandale’s deeper cleans. The song evolves with certain volume control issues, with its plodding nature sounding closer to genuine sludge metal than the rest of the tracks. Other production mishaps, like the bass rumbling near the end of “Raxidermy” or the habit of leaving bits of fret noise at the conclusion of the aforementioned piece, are endearing and proof of the ensemble’s organic means of composition, but from a professional angle, they’re considered mistakes worth noting.
This isn’t to claim the extended play isn’t listenable. Metalheads prove time and time again to brave even the most grimy of recordings, and this isn’t half as bad as any highly-acclaimed raw black metal release. Sadly, the unpolished result and the briefness (19:57) don’t constitute a rewarding listen. The Larches need time to develop before recording another EP. Thankfully, after Nihilistic Majesties‘ release, the group will be building its live reputation on a tour. There, The Larches can truly grow.
Label: Independent?
Release date: 24 July, 2026
Website: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Larches/100089200910770/
Country: UK
Score: 2.0/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 