Counterparts
Prophets

Released in mid-February of this year, the album "Prophets" is the debut record of the Canadian group Counterparts, a young Progressive combo that fuses the technicalities of a certain type of Extreme Metal with a decidedly Hardcore attitude. But be careful not to judge these guys as just another clone of August Burns Red and Misery Signals: despite the average age of the members being under 20 years, the album undoubtedly stands as one of the best debuts in the "core" scene since "Of Malice And The Magnum Heart."

Aside from the usual instrumental interlude (the bland "Carpe Diem"), the album best represents a certain type of modern hardcore/metal, composed of 10 tracks where technique, violence, and melody alternate perfectly. In each of them, you can notice the ease with which the group transitions from typically hardcore outbursts to progressive digressions, ferocious breakdowns, and tasteful arpeggios, all alongside drumming clearly inspired by extreme metal that, together with guitar work well above average, significantly weighs down the songs' sound. Despite not being free from some naivety (the plagiarized riff in the final chorus of "Digression" from the It Prevails hit "Defenses Down") and with a notable margin for improvement (production is not always up to par and the vocals don't stand out in originality compared to dozens of other groups in the genre), partly due to the young age of the members, Counterparts, thanks also to genuine small masterpieces like "Only Anchors," undeniably position themselves as one of the most promising in the scene, perhaps the only ones having learned the lesson from historical groups like Shai Hulud and especially Misery Signals, the true "fathers" of the Canadian group.

"Prophets" indeed is neither an epoch-making nor original album in itself but conveys a sense of spontaneity, freshness, and passion that is rare in similar productions, containing songs light years ahead of the aimless technicalities of their compatriots Protest The Hero and especially the repetitiveness of proposals from bands like August Burns Red, Texas In July, and the like. In short, are you fans of these sounds and desperately looking for a new band to focus on? Well, you've found it!