Following their self titled long player from 2022, Philadephia’s Brackish have returned, and on their current track, they sound like a band that means business.

Their more abrasive side presents itself immediately when ‘Lay Down’ opens with a crashing melodic hardcore riff which, quickly overlaid by a dense layer of extra guitar and driven by a solid rhythm, shows off a really intense sound. Part hardcore and part post rock, the music crosses boundaries with ease, and once an emo inflected vocal rises, the track becomes even more interesting. The voice’s clean-ish tone contrasts well with the heavier aspects, and despite latching onto a different kind of emotion, their mood feels no less intense.

There’s a vaguely punky rhythm driving a crashy chorus, which brings yet another angle to the track’s intense world of riffs, and when the punky elements slide into a chunkier hardcore breakdown, Brackish hit a hard groove that’s hard to beat. As with the elements leading up to this point, these riffs don’t stay for long, and the mood changes yet again to share a slower and more emo-centric sound which really fits the voice. The original riff eventually makes a return to make everything feel a little more rounded, but overall, these three minutes convey a kitchen sink approach to ideas. Not that it makes ‘Lay Down’ feel at all directionless; if anything, it’s a superb showcase for the musicians, and a great example of a band making some massive riffs really connect with their audience.

This isn’t a commercial single in the traditional sense, but it is a superb track with a short and sharp approach that should appeal to fans and new listeners alike. Take a listen to ‘Lay Down’ via the Bandcamp widget below.