Review: Homeseeker, Cemetery Mindset

Home Seeker - Cemetery Mindset
Rating: 7/10
Bandcamp​

​Home Seeker is a new melodic metalcore group founded out of Poughkeepsie, NY. Releasing their debut EP, Cemetery Mindset, on June 30th, I decided to take a look over at the EP before its release and I was nothing short of shocked. I had no clue what to expect walking into this album, I didn’t even listen to the single the band sent before listening to the album in its entirety to get the full effect and I was more than happy I did. Home Seeker is a prime example of the new wave of melodic metalcore that is emerging and as long as we keep bands like them around, it will take over the world.

It’s almost instantly noticeable the inspirations the band has taken from people like Capsize and even Counterparts. It’s almost like a beautiful love child from the two groups, with the first track “Born a Burden,” you are greeted with both harmonic cleans that add background and melody to the more faster hardcore verses comparable to that of The Angst in My Veins by Capsize. There’s just something about those feedback based softer more ambient riffs and the depressing yet relatable lyrical content that brings the listener back in for more and it’s blatantly obvious that Home Seeker has already mastered the art of leaving the listener wanting more already with their debut record. Cemetery Mindset without a doubt starts on one of the highest points I’ve heard this year and provides all the way throughout, it just leaves you sad that there only are four tracks on the album. “I Only Have Myself to Blame” is perfect in that it provides perfect melody between the drums and the guitars while the vocalist adds his own take to the tune. Kicked off by an amazing passage into the track from “Born a Burden,” the track follows a newer more two step-y approach with some more hardcore elements found during the latter half of the song. “I Only Have Myself to Blame” ends with a crushing breakdown before being lead into the next track, which happens to be the single that you can find embedded above, “Scarecrow.” Being the first track on the second half of the EP, it actually feels out of place without listening to “I Only Have Myself…” before it, but it is also probably the most standout track from the EP, showcasing a perfect amount of range from both vocalists and all of the talent from the instrumental members. It’s insane the amount of energy these guys have in these songs, you can almost feel it throughout the record. There’s a softer spoken word passage at about the halfway point of the track that feels almost perfectly placed.

I can easily say that “Moving Forward” really does well with ending the album by leaving the audience eager for more. I can also really easily say that it feels stupid that the EP was only four tracks instead of five, I really think five would of sufficed for the first record a bit better. However, at least every single track of Cemetery Mindset blends well and works wonderfully. There really isn’t a single time you’ll feel bored with this EP, I promise.

Cemetery Mindset is a solid example of what melodic metalcore is now and should stay as, Home Seeker is wonderful. I hope this band really kicks off and we get more music sooner than later, as I’m not sure how long I can keep sticking the same four songs on repeat. Cemetery Mindset releases on Bandcamp on June 30th of 2017. If you live in NY are around local venue, The Loft, there will be a release show featuring the likes of other kickass locals such as Downswing and even Degrader from MA. Don’t sleep on Home Seeker because if you do, you’ll only have yourself to blame.

- Dakota G.