Code Orange - Mirror (EP Review)

Stream the song whilst you read! Code Orange continue to prove why they are true heavyweights of the modern metal world. Setting out in 2014 under a new moniker with their first album I Am King, the band really came out of the gates with a raw and striking sophomore attempt. 2017 saw the release of Forever, an album that is honestly one of the best hardcore albums of the 21st century. 3 years later saw their powerful album Underneath hit the airwaves with a throwback nu metal hint to it, before releasing their latest album What Is really Underneath in February of this year. 4 albums in 9 years isn't bad going at all! But they haven't stopped there....despite already releasing an album in February, they have also just released a 4 track EP in September. An immense force that is always conjuring new ideas and pushing their own personal sonic boundaries, this EP sees Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins hop on a track to help furthermore diversify their sound. At this point you have come to expect a punch in the face when you turn on a Code Orange record, but instead, this time you are greeted by a song called The Mirror. A laid back and rather beautiful ballad of sort that implements hip hop drum beats with magnificent string sections complimenting Reeba Myers beautiful vocal melodies and acoustic guitar. The second track is called Take Shape and with this we are greeted with a more familiar concrete audio sledge from the band. A sinister and evil track that takes you on a journey before opening up for Billy Corgan to take centre stage for the bridge. From here on we have 2 tracks left. Grooming My Replacement and The Game. Real old school sounds from Code Orange in these with Jami Morgan spitting venom over the sludge as he would back in their earlier days. It's both a step further in to the evolution of the Code Orange nightmare, but it still manages to feel awfully familiar at the same time. Rating 4.5/5