By Charlie Maybee
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The Baltimore-based metal band, Play God, has released their first, eponymous EP with six tracks that are sure to melt your face within seconds. Modulating between cinematic moments of romantic piano and acoustic guitar to classic djent style metal sequences and breakdowns, there is a lot to love about their expansive approach to the genre.
While there isn’t a lead single for the EP, the song “Chasing a Ghost” has a highly stylized lyric video. It is a brutal and straightforward metal song in composition and captures the unsettled state of being disillusioned with inauthenticity: “Cinematic / But made real / This delusional pattern / Not a pain I want to feel.”
We know that sometimes life imitates art, but Play God seems to be tired of living in a moment where repeated representations of reality have seemingly replaced any ghostly or ethereal sense of what is “real.” Feelings of isolation and frustration run deep and utilize the natural rage of the genre in its most natural state.
As a debut EP, this is a high-quality effort on the level of production. Play God is teeming with explosive energy and displays strong technical and songwriting skills that will shake listeners to their core. This is a wonderful mix of high-octane energy meeting conceptually deep lyrical content that reaches impressive heights.
Play God’s EP can be streamed on all major streaming platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube. The accompanying lyric music video for “Chasing A Ghost” is also available on YouTube.
Charlie Maybee is a dancer, musician, educator, and writer based in Charleston, South Carolina who currently teaches with the Dance Program at the College of Charleston. His primary work as an artist is with his performing collective, Polymath Performance Project, through which he makes interdisciplinary performance art that centers tap dance as the primary medium of expression and research. He also currently plays rhythm guitar for the Charleston-based punk band, Anergy, and releases music as a solo artist under the name Nox Eterna.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
