Everything But the Everything – Denials (2021)
Everything But the Everything is diving headfirst into despair and anguish with the single ‘Denials’. Dark and powerful, the single rides rock waves before plunging into post-punk goodness. The emotive vocals and engaging melodics will keep you hooked while wanting to shout out with the band.
This despairing delve comes from Izzy the Gent (guitar, bass) who writes all the music and asks for collaboration from his fellow musicians. He is joined by Tobias Hawkins (vocals), Andrew Gomez (keys) and Landon Cisneros (drums). Izzy and Hawkins met when their bands played a show together at the Eagle and this marks their fourth collaboration and fusion of Hawkins’ rock vocals with Izzy’s melodic arrangements.
‘Denials’ builds in the opening with a synth line that warbles through your senses. There is an interesting mixture of retro rock tones and slightly futuristic electronic notes woven around a dark tone. While the melody might seem rather minimalistic at first, as you dip into the depths you find a nebulous layering of tones. The waves of the music create dark depths that the melodic arrangement pulls you into. There is something undeniable about the melody that washes over your skin and sticks to it.
The undulating darkness of the melody finds its match in Hawkins’ vocals. His voice is a swirling spiral of despair and anguish that calls out for help but never seems to find a helping hand. As you are captured in the spiralling depths of sadness, you catch a glimpse of light reflecting off his vocals. It is a really intense performance that captures every sense and makes you want to call out with him. The echoing layering of the vocals later in the track adds to the despair of the performance while enhancing it through the idea that multiple people are pleading for help.
Everything But the Everything has you spiralling down a well of despair and anguish in ‘Denials’. The melody pulls you into untold depths with a dark wave of rock and electronic tones. Tobias Hawkins’ vocals are a despairing rock line that stands against the waves only to draw you further into the darkness.
Find out more about Everything But the Everything on their website, Instagram and Spotify.
