Diamond Construct – DCX2 (Review)

I came away pretty excited after hearing so much potential with what Diamond Construct were doing last year on their self-titled LP. An explosive debut with multiple nationwide tours that subsequently saw them in amongst the stacked line-ups of 2020’s Invasion Fest and Unify Gathering. This is a band that admittedly up until that point had managed to fly under my radar.

DCX2 sees Diamond Construct taking what energy they brought with them last year and totally reconstructing their sound and remodelling how they create it from the ground up. Successfully utilising that same visceral, explosive sensation you typically receive from a classic metalcore riff or breakdown, but now delivering it in a way that is more heavily layered and synthetic, with dark industrial electronic effects. It’s like the band is taking all these metalcore clichés and trying to give them the production value of a blockbuster action movie with a dystopian sci-fi twist. Which in a way does sound sort of obvious but it’s still more than enough to make these very familiar, loud rock tropes sound refreshing once again.

And while Diamond Construct are not the only band out there right now experimenting with this sound, DCX2 is far from generic. You’re going to hear futuristic textures, cold calculated punishing rhythms and electronics but delivered with crushing savagery from the types of drums and riffs you typically hear in metalcore but pushed up to 11.

The opening track “Generic” is a lofty introduction to their new sound, building with intensity as vocalist Kynan Groundwater begins to scream over a haunting electronic atmosphere and some nice 808’s that could be likened to an increasing heartbeat. The urgency of the track comes to it’s peaking crescendo once you hear Kynan scream “Never gonna be what you want me to be, not anymore”, reinforcing this band’s rise from the ashes like a phoenix. It’s evident here that the addition of now permanent DJ Callum Nicholls has played out in favour on DCX2.

The second track “Enigma” introduces some glitchy electronics under some clean vocal passages, carrying a very haunting wall of synthesizers before the band descends into a crushing thunderous breakdown you will be playing over in your head again and again. The first single “Psychosis” which was released with an entertaining music video last month received much praise and its angsty rap elements blend nicely amidst the track listing, it was a fitting reveal for what this EP brings.

 

The tone of the closing track “Scythe” appears to draw heavy influence from the industrial style of the 1990’s which resonates with my younger self whose idols were Trent Reznor and Marilyn Manson. The dreary spoken word delivery that morphs into chaotic angst with throttling drums and riffs further expands the landscape that Diamond Construct are now building upon. It is a strong final leg but does leave the listener wanting more.

Honestly, I loved the shit out of this EP even though I don’t necessarily rank this as my favourite genre of music; especially the strains of metalcore that so obviously influence this record. But these influences are brought together in a way that I can’t deny are incredibly creative. Despite my personal tastes, DCX2 is an EP I’d consistently return to.

DCX2 garners a huge amount of impact while still successfully maintaining that very electronic and sequenced aesthetic. The baseline of heavy riffs, grooves, quality choruses, and good song writing are there, but then have themes of isolation and futurism added on top. Finding a way to digitize your entire sound and still maintaining the feel and punch of a good metalcore record is impressive. These four tracks work incredibly well as samplers for future projects, providing them the freedom to dive head first into new territory.

Pre-order DCX2 here: https://grysclrec.lnk.to/dcx2