EP REVIEW: The Welcoming - Neptune
The Welcoming is a genre-bending rock and metal band from Asheville, North Carolina, over the pond in the USA. The band aims to explore the gray area between rock and metal with big riffs and melodic vocals.
They are described to have a likeness to Thrice, Cave In, A Perfect Circle, and Coheed & Cambria.
Since starting as the solo project of James Ferrell in late 2022, the band has made leaps and bounds, playing shows and festivals in multiple states and cities, along with their songs playing live via radio.
Bitter Air - Opens with such serene arpeggiated guitar chords, creating beautiful space before breaking out into warm bass and gripping electric riffs. I drew upon some similar clean vibes as the recent Ghost album - Impera - the track Kaisarion in particular. Bitter Air comes in waves, contrasting from intense to calm. I like to describe it as a heightened royal galactic atmosphere with easy melodic choruses.
The Unknown is pop-punkish but an upbeat metal track. The traditional clean metal vocalization is strong and consistent. Absolutely love that isolated vocal and guitar combo - very ethereal and open. I love a track that allows space for the listener to really delve and absorb instruments individually and all at once. The core of the track really thrashes, making it a good headbanger and a pit opener.
Eulogy Is nu-metal with a hardcore pop-punk bounce before plunging head-first into brutal vocals. The bass is so thick and rich; I’d place it as the backbone of everything followed by gritty guitars decorated with early 2000’s metalcore melodies. The choruses come to heightened heartfelt brutality, and forefront vocals come to impressive ranges. It is probably the first time I would describe a metal vocal as angelic.
The Incident - I’m a sucker for intervals, anything that sounds cinematic, telephone recorded, and dramatic. I completely adore it. It changes the tone for me, it puts on a serious front, a political message. The slow solos and widespread deep-seated percussion are the statement in this short track.
Song and Memory - Detailed, intense rhythmic bass is the core of this track. It’s dirty but also clean and organized. Strong melodic vocals are the powerhouse, forcing the message through. It’s one of those tracks that make you go “holy sh— this is a good solid track.” My favorite indeed.
Sonically impressive and a thunderous force of nature, Neptune is focused yet diverse, mature yet adventurous, technical yet heartfelt. When I got the email, I was promised I wouldn't be bored listening to the EP, and The Welcoming promised much more than that. I was very much impressed by the heartfelt technicals, the mature yet adventurous tones and concepts. In honesty, my first impressions put me out of my comfort zone. I'm completely out of my depth tearing it apart, but a few attempts later, I’m besotted with the EP, coming to love the detail and heights. 15/10.
