Review: Luke Petty
The anxiety I felt before listening to I Prevail’s new album, Violent Nature, was intense, especially given the major lineup change earlier this year. A single thought kept running through my mind: would it still sound like the band I’ve loved for the past decade? The moment I pressed play, however, all those fears were instantly erased. The album immediately hit with the powerful, signature sound I was hoping for but with a little extra, confirming that the heart of I Prevail is still very much intact. Eric Vanlerberghe on clean vocals is a massive win for me.
From its very first notes, “Synthetic Soul” acts as a stark announcement of a new era for the band. The track begins with a creeping, industrial hum, its cold, mechanical ambiance bringing to mind some very dark landscapes. This sense of unease builds steadily, drawing you into its unsettling world. Then, without warning, the tension shatters in a brutal eruption of sound. The transformation is led by Eric’s vocals, which flip from a clean, almost unnervingly calm delivery to a guttural, furious roar. It’s a seismic shift that proves the band’s intentions are serious and uncompromising—they’ve arrived with something heavy, raw, and ready to dominate.
In “N.W.O.”, the track ignites with a burst of venomous lyrics before a sharp, dirty riff slams in. This is I Prevail at their best, launching into a precise metalcore assault. They’ve always blended genres, and here, they brilliantly infuse the metalcore structure with elements of drum and bass and grime, proving their mastery of diverse sounds.
“Annihilate Me” arrives as a full-blown inferno, a track that feels brutally, painfully honest. Eric’s vocals serve as a dialogue with himself, a form of self-counseling through personal cutdowns. He’s pushing back against the internal fire, even when every fiber of his being is ablaze, culminating in a hard-hitting catharsis. It’s in this raw, uncompromising intensity that Violent Nature may well stand as their heaviest offering to date.
Initially, it might have seemed that giving Eric the main vocal role would limit the band’s sound. Instead, it’s allowed him to showcase a range previously only hinted at, freeing the band to explore new and exciting directions.
The album’s title track, “Violent Nature”, wastes no time in re-establishing I Prevail’s metalcore roots. From the first note, Eric Vanlerberghe roars back into our lives with the line, “I’m a sick motherfucker with a violent nature,” setting a tone of uncompromising aggression. This raw intensity is immediately balanced by the following track, the powerfully emotional “Rain.” This song is a masterclass in the band’s ability to balance sheer heaviness with profound vulnerability. It explores the dual weight of suffering and the cathartic relief of finally being set free from misery. This, by far, is the best track on the album for me.
The album’s journey concludes with some powerful tracks, each taking a distinct path into darkness. “Into Hell” is a visceral, synth-driven track, its aggressive vocals underscoring a theme of unwavering devotion. The lyrics paint a picture of following a loved one through fire, even “over glass,” for their sake. This intense commitment gives way to the moody and introspective cover of “Crimson & Clover.” Following this shift, the band plunges back into fury with “God.” The track is an explosion of rage, driven by immense deathcore vocals and heavy instrumentation. The sheer intensity of this song makes the following track, “Stay Away,” sound like a desperate and perhaps wise piece of advice.
The album ends on a high note with “Stay Away.” Its dense, aggressive instrumentation in the verses is contrasted beautifully with the chorus, which offers a surprisingly sweet, pop-punk sensibility, like “sugar on your tongue.”
I Prevail has delivered a truly fascinating lyrical journey. They expertly navigate themes of darkness, suffering, pain, and redemption. Musically, the album is a masterclass in modern metal, blending dark melodies with pop sensibilities, powerful breakdowns, and divine melodic moments. Violent Nature is an album that demands to be heard, not just listened to. It has much to say about the human condition, making the journey into its dark, soul-examining depths a truly rewarding experience.
VIOLENT NATURE – OUT NOW
https://ffm.to/ip_violentnature_album