EP REVIEW “A Coward’s Stitches” from Confyde
The new EP “A Coward’s Stitches” from Confyde is out now, and available to stream on all major platforms. Confyde is the rock project led by Martin Jackson who has developed a rock style that defies being classed as any one genre. Taking and mixing influences from a wide range, Martin skilfully blends them together into something truly unique. Previous releases have often had a political and/or social message on subjects such as the state of our landlord system in the UK, but “A Coward’s Stitches” is something new, and very different.
Available to stream now HERE.
Many artists have released singles and EP’s on the subject of mental health, but not many are as personal, and…. Well so well crafted as this one. This EP is an intensely personal piece, and takes the listener on. Journey through Martin’s personal mental health battles. What makes this so unique, is the musical as well as lyrical portrayal of mental health struggles. The music actually portrays the effects audibly ! It focuses on a relationship, the emotions and feelings of guilt and ultimately, personal growth.
As Martin says: “From the unhinged progressive chaos of the title track, to the brooding simplicity of “Once Broken” and the harrowing unplugged odyssey of “Hxppy Nxw Yxxr”, within just three songs it somehow ended up covering a huge range of dynamics as well introducing new, unpredictable elements. The journey takes us from sombre alt rock textures to extreme metal blastbeats to acoustic hip hop and more, all the while maintaining the big hooks and melodies that aim to deliver those emotive gutpunches”.
The first title track A Coward’s Stitches hits you like a wrecking ball. An incredible track, unlike anything I’ve heard before. The music is complex and erratic, fast and furious at the same time. It’s heavy and yet delicate in places and weaves us through Martin’s mind and emotions in an incredible way. Some parts remind you of an Opeth opus, others more light but no less quirky, something like Black Country New Road or Bethlehem Castles. And through it all is Martin’s vocals, like the music, twitching and changing, sometimes harsh heavy screams, light and delicate, and at other times downright weird. The lyrics focus on the impact of avoiding difficult conversations and the emotions and issues this causes in relationships.
I’ve never heard anything quite so effective at conveying the erratic and confusing state of mind a sufferer can experience. It’s un-nerving in its format, and I LOVE it.
The second track is Once Broken and the pace slows right down here and is an oasis of calm in a sea of storms. The lyrics feel like they portray a time of reflection and realisation of the struggles, with lines like “I was paralyzed by what we’ve lost.” The guitars on this one are fantastic, and have a real fuzzy grunge edge to them. It has the feel of a story being re-told. There are rock elements in there too, and sections akin to the classic 70’s Genesis story telling prog rock.
It feels like it’s a journey, Martin’s inner voice, recognising the pain and suffering “Why did it take for me to hit rock bottom, to snap out of the fear, that had made me so numb to all the ways that you’ve been hurt, and to finally put you first”, and as it draws to a close, a start…. A glimmer of re-building, or recovery.
The final track is Hxppy Nxw Yxxr an 8 minute showpiece. Starting with simple acoustic guitar intro, joined by Martin’s voice delivering some delightful high notes. Then it changes again, into a punchy self-destructive inner conversation masterpiece. The acoustic nature of it sits in direct contrast to what’s come before and I love the effect, of change and growth.
Check out the video for Happy New Yxxr below:
The track is cleverly built, the darker voice backed by a more erratic soundtrack, whilst the positivity is backed by light, positive sections. As it builds, it feels like the darker voice is more prominent, reflecting the journey as things become more desperate ad darker, the listener getting the feeling the narrator is falling, and giving up. “It becomes harder to resist the call of the void, like I wish I wasn’t here any more”
“Maybe that wouldn’t be so awful, we could put an end to this constant squabble….. you do a worse impression of a worse person. I grow fucking weary of your repeated failure. Perhaps we’ve found your one true saviour”
But as it continues, the positive voice becomes more confident and pushes back. A sense of defiance that builds and builds, giving the listener hope. I love the way that it ends as an incomplete story with the line “Even if some questions remain unanswered, the fact that you’re still here is all that matters”.
A Coward’s Stitches is something uniquely amazing. Three songs that combine and mix so many influences and styles in a wonderfully erratic way, that convey mental health struggles unlike anything I’ve heard.
An incredible personal project and a thoroughly enjoyable EP. A 9.0 from us at LiveWire. A Coward’s Stitches is out now and available to stream on all major platforms HERE.
Give it a whirl
