To say 2020 was a testing year would be an understatement. Humanity’s mettle was tested in a plethora of ways and not all of them good. Reflecting on the year which shut the world down, Australian hardcore group Proposal dropped blistering EP ‘Kingdom’.
The Wollongong collective’s effort comes in at just under 13 minutes of melodic tinged aggression. This strain of hardcore metal is as brutally honest as they come; touching on themes of depression, resilience, and racism.
‘Kingdom’ opens with ‘Closure’, two minutes of instrumental which reminds us of how blissfully unaware we were of the carnage that was to come in the opening of 2020. Drums ripple through like waves of the Tasman Sea, lapping against the shores of light melodic guitars. Proposal paints a picturesque soundscape of their native homeland with guitars that bend like a summer zephyr and bass which shines with the intensity of the sun. After a short sharp stop, ‘Closure’ catapults us full pelt into the immersion of this idyllic image where tremolos and crashing drums run free through the waves of their own creation.
‘Wilted’ exposes the flaws in ‘Closure’s’ facade as Nirvana inspired billowing guitars soon blow and make way for the majesty of seductively heavy groove reserved for the genre. Damian Ciric’s larynx ripping growls wash over us like a warm ocean wave as he vows to guide us through the current of depression ‘with every ounce of strength I have left’. This chronicle of wilting inside as a result of another’s behaviour sets Proposal up to practice what they preach; ‘Let my roots grow deep and flourish from the inside’.
‘Kingdom’ is fit to burst with the physicality of the genre; high intensity breakdowns oozing with charismatic darkness grab you by the scruff of the neck and frees the viscous headbang that’s been trapped inside for so long. Proposal’s signature savage guitar riffs eye Slayer’s reputation and seek to ‘Reign In Blood’. Is ‘Kingdom’ a feral feast for the ears? Absolutely. Mauling us with in your face growls and screams of the jackal, Ciric’s hardcore version of a ringmaster is essential listening. However, it isn’t all about how much you can growl before your vocal chords rupture for Proposal.
‘Clarity’ is the longest song on the EP at just under three and a half minutes. If you’re expecting balls to the wall brutality to match the rest of ‘Kingdom’, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. Slow, hazy melodies billow against an atmospherically echoey backdrop. ‘I fade away when you hold me’ exhibits a Layne Staley quality to Ciric’s voice, the fuzziness adding an addictive rasp. Clear guitars ring true, building the rich ambiance, rolling drums metering the pace of the song the way many of us regulate our emotions. Repetition of a singular line runs the risk of becoming stale, but that isn’t the case here as clean singing gives way under the weight of frustration and desperation, transforming into a gut wrenching scream. Rounded guitar tones cradle a line which is as brutal as the genre itself; ‘I’m worthless but you made me this worthless’.
‘Kingdom’s’ swan song is the eviscerating ‘We Are Not The Same’. Siren like guitar teams with reverberating drums to launch Proposal’s campaign against racism; a destructive way of thinking which has gone on for far too long. ‘Maybe the message doesn’t need to come from the opposition’ Ciric bellows over a pulsating riff, searching for its target like a torpedo. ‘Maybe it needs to come from one of your own’ considers the target sought and destroyed as the judgmental finger of society is pointed back at itself.
The EP comes to a close with a string screaming solo which slices through Proposal’s trademark antagonistic soundscape. ‘Kingdom’ seeks to reign supreme with 13 minutes of “lay your soul bare” clarity about the impact the last 12 months has had on humanity. Proposal beg us to be better, to ‘wake up and listen’ to the ways our victimisation at the hands of circumstance will further harm us if we continue down the path of self-destruction. ‘Kingdom’ is one hell of a wake up call and it’s one you should accept the charges for.
‘Kingdom’ is available now across all major streaming platforms. For the latest Proposal news, including new releases and tour dates, follow their Facebook linked below.
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