Now, if you know me you know that MCR is one of my favourite bands ever formed (even if the way it was formed and the subsequent domino effect hurts my brain to think about). But after the band officially spit in 2013 before joining back together in 2019, all members of the band went off to do their own things. Lead singer Gerard Way went and focused on his comic career with DC, Mikey Way also pursued a comic career with DC whilst also working on other musical projects, with Ray also working on musical projects via his Soundcloud account. Who I want to talk about in this article however is Frank Iero, the second guitarist in MCR's line-up, who went on to create four solo projects, with the latest being 'Heaven is a place, This is a place' that released early this year. After a good few listens, I've really come to adore this EP, and here's why.
(Frank Iero - Taken by Emily May for Stitched Sound)
Let's talk about the track list first. I'm fairly certain that 'Violence' is one of the best openers to a project i've ever heard. Its immediate, and demands you attention with its hard guitar riff, slamming into some amazing drums. The music all of the features creates is positively chilling. It makes me come out in goose bumps every time I hear it. Then Iero starts singing. His vocal delivery is so unique, and ill be honest, when i first heard it I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but it grew on me immensely. His voice is perfectly suited to this type of music. Guttural, but also harmonic in a way I've never heard. His voice is a treat to the ears, and he puts some wonderful emphasis on certain words that just makes my hair stand on end. The song continues to explode on, before changing to some more low key vocals and a creeping guitar riff, building to a climactic and hectic ending. Plus, its themes are actually pretty profound. In an interview with Kerrang! Iero said 'Violence is about, I guess, the thin line between being infatuated and in love, and maybe also being in just a very tumultuous and vile and toxic relationship. Sometimes the lines get blurred between, ‘What is affection? What is violence? What is good for you? And what is ruining everything that’s good about your soul?’ Four minutes of pure musical anarchy, with actually some pretty decent and hard hitting lyrics too, it builds a brilliant starting atmosphere to the EP. It introduces you to the sound, and simultaneously blows everything you thought you knew about the project out of the water with a dynamic first track.
'Sewerwolf' is also a brilliant song, that feels entirely different to its predecessor. It capitalises on Iero's ability to vocalise both softly and then with real aggression and anger. It creates such a feeling of tension and build-up that I haven't heard since Phil Collins' 'In the Air Tonight'. You feel as if you need Iero to just go apeshit, and he does this in such a way that every time its satisfying. Then you come to a brilliant instrumental section, gain building this feeling that something is eventually going to give, in a huge way. I think something amazing about Iero's voice is that his delivery is so different every time each chorus feels different. Can we also talk about the guitar riffs on this song. It underscores the rest of the track perfectly but also comes tearing through when its required, creating such an amazing noise when paired with the heavy drum lines. This song, like 'Violence' is a feast for the ears.
Now, the sound of the project is completely changed with their cover of 'Loosing my Religion'. I actually quite like this stripped down cover of the R.E.M classic, and again, Iero's voice works really well with this style. It's reliance on subtle drums and what sounds like a ukulele or a tuned up guitar is the perfect level for his voice. The melody supplied from Kayleigh Goldsworthy is also perfect, and the two's voices blend extremely well, with her vocal delivery being very strong throughout. Again, Iero's explosive delivery makes every word repeated and every line sound new and exiting, it's not something I've ever experienced before. Usually choruses are just the same throughout a track, but with Iero the delivery is so diverse each chorus has its own spin, its own inflections. Although different to the rest of the tracks, this cover is strong, but not as good as the other three on the EP, but only because the others are true powerhouses.
The final track of this EP is just amazing. Ill come out and happily say that this is my favourite track on this project, because its just a non stop ride from start to finish. I love the walking bassline, the way the drums kick in and suddenly were in motion, the music taking you for a truly stunning almost seven minute long ride. This song also uses Iero's voice amazingly well, capitalising on both the soft and harsh ranges, making the verses seem darker, more solemn, but when the guitar kicks up the choruses sound more defiant than drab. Especially with the lyrics, the verses should be slow with lines like 'It's only raining on my side of town,
This medication has been keeping me dumb'. Any other delivery of this song would sound ridiculous, and the painful sorrow of Iero's voice just evokes so much emotion. Throughout this track you can't help but follow the story in the lyrics. 'The sky's been falling, I hope you never know'. It's a song of devotion, of coming to terms with your demons and trying to fight them off to try and benefit the people you care the most about. After this heavy lyric section, we get some silence, that honestly helps to reflect on the last part of the track before the track explodes into its final verse. Its beautiful, and after the silence the final chorus sounds so unbelievably sweet. You find yourself shouting along 'It takes a lot to find yourself in a place where no one looks, My sky's been falling but you never knew, I promise I will try to smile if it's the last thing I ever do' because we can relate to Iero's hopelessness, but also his drive to be free from it, to put on a smile and tell everyone he's okay, even if it feels the world is crashing down around him. 'Record Ender' is the strongest final song i have ever had the pleasure of listening to, and I'm willing to take that fact to my grave.
(Main album art -'Heaven is a place, This is a place' by Frank Iero and The Future Violents)
Its pretty safe to assume then that I absolutely loved this EP, and am so glad this is my first all out positive review on here. 'Heaven is a place, This is a place' is such a strong project from Frank Iero and The Future Violents that has strongly cemented itself in with both his other solo work and the work of MCR before it. If were to get another album from them, as Frank claimed now he's simply making music for himself and his enjoyment, then its such a way to go, but if another project is in the works, this is going to be a tough act to follow for sure.
TL;DR - This EP is an extremely strong and dynamic body of work. Each song is a delight to listen to, and the project keeps every track feeling fresh and new, as well as staying true to Frank's style and vocal delivery. A truly strong EP.
Score - 9/10
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