Technically, this German metal band are not strictly metalcore, nor are they newcomers. Formed back in 2012 in Ingolstadt, their style has defied simple classification.

While a cursory playthrough of their music seems to scream obvious hardcore metal, taking a deeper listen to their material reveals far more than just that. You can hear so many other musical elements coming into play, like punk and even hints of some groove metal have snuck in. 

This is a band that has maintained its unique and signature sound from their very beginnings. Their self-titled debut album has been eight years coming, but you can really hear the way the guys have refined their techniques over the years, while staying true to themselves and their musical vision. 

This quintet consists of Marky (vocals), Willy and Flo (guitars), Haunzi (bass) and Tobi (drums); all incredibly talented musicians who have clearly worked hard to set themselves apart from other comparable bands. They do not want to just sound like everyone else, so they pick and choose ideas from various genres, blending them together to create something that is still metalcore, but unique.

Waves Like Walls have released a number of singles over the years, and two EPs, “Brain as a Weapon” (2013) and “The Path” (2017). They perform regular live shows across Europe and have a healthy social media and streaming following, but it seems they have yet to fully penetrate the international metal scene. With this ten-track debut offering, do not be surprised if that changes rapidly. 

Two singles have dropped from this new one so far, “Choice,” and “Time,” which between them have already netted almost 40,000 streams on Spotify. The lyrics are raw, honest and powerful, blasted perfectly into our ears by dark, growling lead vocals. The guitars are heavy and fierce, yet also contain elements of melodic harmonies and subtle undertones that one does not normally get from the harshness of metalcore. The bassline and drums are unrelenting, seizing you from the moment they commence and maintaining a firm hold with no sign of letting go.

The whole album has that feel of instantly capturing your attention and not allowing even a single dull moment to creep in. These guys know their stuff and seem to keep finding a stronger sound with each piece they put out there. Keep an eye on Waves Like Walls, a definite band on the rise.

Listen on Spotify here

 metalcore 

Author: Harley Houghton

Harley Houghton is a writer and blogger, based in Melbourne, Australia. Her passions include music, especially metal, gaming and comics. Check out her blog www.harleysmadhouse.com and follow her on Twitter.