Overflowing with emotional toil and a ferocious determination, London’s Death of Youth are tremendous reminder of the 2010’s UK melodic hardcore scene where clean vocals were few but DIY ethics and harsh melancholy were essential. Bands like Landscapes and More Than Life balanced aggression with vulnerability to be part of a wave of bands which departed and were never replaced. Bands chasing algorithms and content was not the necessity it is today. It was about making music with a pure heart to inspire those who are struggling to survive in the world around them. Death of Youth bring this unforgiving approach into the modern day to show how socially little has changed and music this earnest is always in dire need.
Born from the bedroom of frontman Rob David, Nothing Is The Same Anymore was created following the end of a relationship and its foundations are built on a scarred emotional core which has never wavered. After the experience gained from 2 EP’s sharpening their DIY tools, Death of Youth have blossomed from a personal vehicle into a steadfast megaphone for topics both social and political.‘Desensitised’ and ‘Rumination’ are as powerful as Modern Life is War grabbing you by the throat with urgent acceleration to wash over you with passionate gang vocals and a distressed performance from frontman David. Spoken word sections of ‘Bystander’ give slight reprieve to let the messages soak into the conscience and elevate the music beyond its raw elements. Its midwest emo leanings twinkle and breathe beneath a poignant sample from John F Kennedy on ‘peace in all time’ to be a necessary reflection to ensure the barrage of melodic hardcore doesn’t wear thin too soon. The band have their ‘State of The Union’ moment with highlight ‘The Inverse of Patriotism’ which has all the direct fury of early Rise Against with a 100 second stampede biting the head of those using flags to push their warped agendas.
“Death of Youth have blossomed from a personal vehicle into a steadfast megaphone for topics both social and political”
There is still a lot of personal sorrow woven within the fabric of the album, with ‘Castle Rock’ being an ode to a passed friend and it rings from every chord which soars while the confession of David feels more desperate than the fiery condemnation of songs passed. Their identity as a vehicle for change is unwavering and still only in their infancy the identity of the band is sure to evolve into a vessel which cannot be ignored. It remains to be seen if Death of Youth will be the spark for the next wave of UK melodic hardcore. If they continue be a razor sharp arrow pointed at atrocities and develop the emotional core which fans of Touche Amore gravitate then their potential is boundless.
Equally at home with the European screamo scene they have labels from France, Italy, Germany and Lithuania on side for the release of Nothing Is the Same Anymore. To mark the release of the record, in March the band will head across the south coast with incaseyouleave for a weekend sure to inspire and continue the buzz for a band who are only going to get louder and louder.