Figures Deliver And Then Some With 'Chronos' EP

On June 16th, Figures will unleash their new EP, 'Chronos', and here's why I think you should check it out.

I was first made aware of Melbourne's Figures a couple weeks back when their new single at the time, 'Recoil', fell across my path (i.e. appearing in the ever deepening hole that is my email inbox).

That crunchy, groove-laden song is culled from the quintet's upcoming five-track EP, 'Chronos', a damn solid 23-minute display of prog-rock and contemporary metal that's a huge cut above their debut self-titled EP. Which while not necessarily a terrible release, their debut EP has been well and truly left behind in the mediocre dust by this far superior successor. For 'Chronos' is a highly proficient and solid all-rounder of what Australian rock and metal can achieve!

Before I go any further, though, let's get the obvious and typical comparisons to Dead Letter Circus, Deftones, Karnivool, Tool, and Twelve Foot Ninja out of the way right fucking now. Because yes, Figures sound like all five of those bands put into one. While such references will help those unfamiliar with Figures know what they're getting into before hitting play, it's more or less a moot point when talking about the style that this Melbourne-based group dons for themselves. I mean, if you've ever listened to all or either of those five above bands, then what Figures deliver musically will be a highly familiar one.

Yet even with such close musical comparisons, Figures show songwriting and instrumental prowess in vastly higher quantities than many a band found on the international stage, despite only being a band for three years.

Instrumentally, the guitar riffs are chunky, groovy and heavy but just so well-rounded and smooth in their sonic characteristics. The rhythm section packs a real weighty punch and the drums and bass are simply inseparable in their locked-down timing. The dual vocal style of frontman Mark Tronson appropriately jumps between his soothing cleans and his screaming exactly when the song calls for it; with both being delivered clear and seemingly effortlessly.

Figures also seem to understand that having a good chorus really matters when you can so easily become a forgettable dime a dozen band in this genre nowadays. And they nail it in that regard, as the heavy EP opener of 'Recoil' (released in honour of a deceased fan, "Slick" Mick Mills) and their most recent single, 'Alpha' defiantly prove.

Moving away from broad strokes to slightly more specific points, as stated earlier, the hard-hitting five minutes of 'Recoil' kicks off the EP by superbly weaving between crushing moments and uplifting passages. Maintaining this consistent pace, the rip-roaring and melodically high-reaching, 'Alpha', strikes hard next; following on from it's opening sibling nicely. 'Tied Around' (which what I'd argue showcases the EP's strongest chorus) and 'Point Of Doubt' slightly shift the sonic gears over from being 'metal' to that of simply 'rock'. A small subtlety, yes, but one that's indeed noticeable enough and ensures that this mid-release duo doesn't just become distant indistinguishable cogs of the larger machine.

Now, it's only after these four songs tight, fist-pumping prog-rock bangers that the EP pulls into a quieter, dynamic and more touching station. This comes in the form of the EP's overall standout, 'Crying Door'. With low-mixed drums and quiet, minimal but rumbling bass parts underpinning a haunting piano melody and delicate vocals, this spacious ballad is an emotional and engrossing finale to what has been a loud and wicked EP. I genuinely love this deeply emotional song as it adds a suitable dynamic to the release and expands their prog-rock palette further than just heavy grooves and riffs. Something that I hope Figures will be aware of as they leave the world of EP's behind and step up to the plate on a future full-length, whenever that bridge is eventually crossed.

Now, when writing up this piece I suddenly had the realisation that the Australian prog-metal/prog-rock scene has come up to an impenetrable creative and musical wall. Figures are indeed up against that aforementioned wall but they've scaled it higher than many others have, and they now stand with the potential to circumvent it altogether.

See, I listen to fellow Australian prog acts like Mass Sky Raid (who are as egregious a Dead Letter Circus rip-off as you could ever hope to find) and Arterial Branch and most of the time, I'm just never that impressed. Bands like that do feature all of the hallmarks of a great prog-x/prog-y release, yet I'm never drawn back into their respective releases, and after a couple listens, I move on with my day. However, when I step back and look at the wider genre and then place Figures or Perth's eccentrically soaring Voyager on the map, my ears immediately perk up! As obvious as it is, what it all comes down nowadays is the actual songwriting and the following musical delivery that your band can present; not just how many strings you have, not how many genres you can fuck with during a single song, and not how many fuckin' modes you can cram in.

So, to sum up, listen to Figures' 'Chronos' EP come this Friday if you know what's good for ya!

You can pre-order 'Chronos' here if songs like 'Recoil' tickle your fancy. The five-piece will be hitting up Melbourne's Evelyn Hotel on July 7th to launch this dayumn fine EP. Score tickets through the band here.