CALL OF SIRENS Gaia EP

CALL OF SIRENS

GAIA EP

Self-release (24/02/23)

Harking back to the 2000s for a dark punk-pop vibe with prog-rock undertones, Call of Sirens deliver a solid EP filled with personal angst, hummable melodies and driving rhythms.

Opening track The Monsters skips along via an up-tempo beat, with a phased guitar motif and busy bass line underpinning the dramatic vocal style of Lani Hopuare. It switches up to a half-time chorus, all wide guitars and wobbly bass, with an interesting break later in the song that changes key and climbs to a false peak before sliding back into the chorus. 

Kenopsia follows, built upon a build-and-release template that contrasts a broken snare groove across the verse with a straight ahead feel in the chorus. There’s good use of dynamics on show which leaves plenty of space to breathe, especially during the middle section which is reduced to a sparse set of atmospherics led by delicate reverberating guitar.

Lyrically, the EP’s focus is on matters of a personal nature; struggles with self-identity, belonging and self-worth. This is especially present on A Stranger (To Myself) which pushes into modern rock territory with a mid-paced tempo that neatly switches to a slower, looser groove in the chorus. There’s a nice feel on show as the rhythm section get to show off their chops. 

Gravel Tree wraps things up with a deliberately slow build that opens out into staccato bursts of guitars and snare hits. It sinks back in on itself before repeating the trick again, keeping the listener on edge and creating a sense of anxiety as the expected release never appears. Instead, we get a tidy guitar solo and drift out to the close. 

There’s a good mix of styles on show across the EP; a dash of emo-pop, a sprinkle of gothic grandeur, a splash of metallic crunch, and some lovely grooves. Instrumentation is on point and the vocals have a beautifully rich tone to them. 

Judge for yourself: https://callofsirensofficial.bandcamp.com/album/gaia