Post-hardcore outfit Furian are set to annihilate the world at large with their rampant EP effort, We Aren’t Who We Are. The four-piece, hailing from Liverpool and Bradford, have created a fearsome, savage sound, an intense, fresh wave of heavy rock amidst the throngs of the more prominent of indie and folk-based likes of today. Ahead of their very first UK tour to start this week in Lancaster with dates all across the country, Furian have described their sound as “real rock music for real people”; and they might not be wrong.
First track ‘I Told You So’ is an aggressive opener, the heavy screamo vocals immediately drowning the listener, although the experience is instantly balanced by the following softer and more melodic verses. The choruses are catchy and fast-paced, the powerful guitars setting cities on fire and obliterating the universe as we know it. ‘Highly Strung’ again opens with more of the destructive vocals, with Furian having managed to create their own brand of heavy power-pop that draws influences on both hard rock and pop-punk. Furian combine elements of softcore and heavier material across their EP, although the subtle tenderness in the songs may get lost within the angry, screaming vocal parts.
‘Remember Me’ incorporates Matt Bellamy-inspired guitar riffs that might have dated back to Muse’s Absolution sessions. It is one of the strongest tracks of the EP, of a slightly softer nature that is coated with a sense of desperate longing and fervent aching, the chorus of “Would you remember me like I remembered you?” showing some of the band’s most haunting and chilling lyrics. Followed by ‘Forever’, the softest of the five songs, it is a slow, almost ballad-like number where Furian seem visibly vulnerable for the first time. Final track ‘Look At Me Now’ is another shining highlight of the strong EP, the song reminiscent of a Royal Blood meets Deftones vibe, again with influences that hint prominently at a heavy pop-punk influence.
It is an exciting time for Furian, on the eve of their first headline tour and an opportunity to play Reading & Leeds festivals this August. A fresh, welcome wave of progressive hard rock that incorporates elements of the soft and vulnerable, the heavy and caustic, Furian are ready to take the UK by storm, destroying everyone and everything who dare stand in their way. We Aren’t Who We Are is available to buy now on iTunes.
Words by Cady Siregar