EP Review: All New Ways Of Life

All New Ways Of Life is the introductory offering from Wellington-based Hardcore Metal outfit, Cian. Connor Matthew (Guitar, Vocals), Navah Chapman (Guitar), Dylan Jonkers (Bass, Vocals) and Zed Ramsay (Drums) have delivered four raging slabs of blistering-hot Metal on this EP and are hungry to take over the world with their punishing, riff-laden sound.

First up in this aural assault is the title track, lyrically based in looking at life through the lens of anxiety… only to overcome, triumph, and start anew. A brief guitar intro leads into a fast-paced gut-punch of a song, frequently jarringly in-your-face, but also including moments of strong melodic understanding. A very powerful message of self-belief. Reveries is the first song that Cian wrote collectively, and again has a worthy message delivered with gut-wrenching emotion. It’s a metaphorical journey of finding the dead body of someone known and loved, only to realize that the person might still be alive, had feelings been spoken out instead of kept private. To quote the band, regarding this song, “There are many things stopping us from showing kindness. Simply, forget it all. Show love to that person who needs it”. Indeed. The vocals are paired with a crushing, chugging backing that shows off the deft prowess of Cian’s musicianship. 

The third track is titled Thoughts Of Loneliness, lyrically comparing that feeling to being frozen inside, and musically an intense track. The discomfort of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and all of their despicable bedfellows is ably captured in moments of raging fury, and of screaming heartache, leaving the listener in no doubt that the writer has experienced these emotions to their utmost depth.

Never Settle rounds things off, being a plea to the entirety of the human race to work actively together to save our environment and planet. The despair at seeing a world potentially on its last legs is perfectly captured and portrayed, right down to the slowing of the end riff, as if to demonstrate a world ceasing to spin…then ceasing to exist. “Never Settle” could also be the band’s motto, having declared that they will never settle until they’ve achieved their goals.

Look out, world. Cian are coming for you, and they aren’t accepting excuses. I’d jolly well pull my socks up if I were you. We only get one planet, and Cian are set to make sure it’s well tended to… under their domination, of course.