MODERN ECHO | In Division | EP Review

Some best kept secrets should be immediately injected into the world of rock music. In my opinion, hard rock band Modern Echo is definitely one of those. Carrying similarities to bands such as Breaking Benjamin and Red among others, Modern Echo bring a unique blend of rock to the table. Now at the end of 2018, Modern Echo have issued their highly anticipated third release in the form of, "In Division", a five-track EP. I initially found out about Modern Echo back around 2014/2015 because it was around this time I was seeking all of these independent and "third-rate" rock bands. While there were plenty of underground rock bands I discovered that did age poorly for me, bands like Hidden Hospitals and Modern Echo are ones that I still come back to this day and absolutely adore all of the music they put out. These are bands that haven't lost their touch with me as they've proven to still make excellent music. That's a similar ideal I can reveal about Modern Echo's "In Division" which is said to be a much heavier project than its preceding effort, "Elan Vital", which is the EP that sold me on this band. After a couple of projects that put their name out there, it seems like Modern Echo is taking an extra step with this extended play to prove that they truly deserve a bigger audience than what they already have, and for a band that doesn't get as much attention and is rather in the same class of lesser bands such as Fall Of Envy and Adakain, that is the most desirable thing. 

If you went to the band's official Bandcamp page and clicked on this album, you may have probably heard the first released song from this EP, "Torn Away" which kicks off the project along with adjacent track "Burden". Both cuts set the standard of the style you're going to hear across the entirety of these five tracks. "Torn Away" kicks things off slowly with some ambiance before elevating to a main riff that is mixed in with orchestral elements which is noticeable throughout every track here and showcases the band is not afraid of adding unique elements to their sound to make it stick out further. While some may claim that it makes them sound a lot like an amalgamation of several bands they'd probably be compared to, in the context of the band themselves and the music they're trying to pull off with this project, it sets itself apart well from anything else they've done. Both tracks have excellent hooks to them and have lyrics that go far past generic and register as memorable. That continues with the following two tracks "Quarry" and "The Awakening", which prove that the band is maturing well and are delivering a well calculated project that expands its walls every chance it gets. The instrumentals work fantastically to push each track to the limit and vocalist Jonathan Schweiger does an amazing job on every single track. He is really pushing himself to do different things with his voice and not just sticking to the same vocal tone found with previous projects. Even in the screamed vocals which pop up a few times, there is a genuine feeling to the vocals along with much of this EP's material. 

Overall, this is one of many examples why I wish Modern Echo was on a major label, and also why I have attempted to bring attention to this band since discovering "Elan Vital" in 2015. Of course, this isn't a completely flawless project as the final track "Left For Dead" is much more mediocre compared to the other four songs written for this EP. And as an overall piece of work, I still believe that "Elan Vital" is superior, but that's principally because I absolutely loved that EP to death and played it CONSTANTLY back when it came out. Both of the projects Modern Echo created after their debut album "Spirit In The Machine" in 2011 are strong in their own unique way, and that especially reigns true with "In Division". This is material that makes you wish for a full-length album to be made around it because of how strong it is, and even though that could be considered a detriment to this project, it's difficult for newer acts to make full length albums these days. Modern Echo seem set on delivering us EPs and singles due to them not getting the funding that is completely deserved, so it's instantly forgivable by me. For fans of Breaking Benjamin, Red, Starset, and even 10 Years, if you are looking for a band that is similar to ones you consistently listen to, this EP will fill you up like a well prepared meal. You may wish for seconds, but with "In Division", you'll be glad with everything you get.
RATING: 8/10 

Leave your thoughts about this EP in the comments section below. Was this EP good or bad? Was it a surprise or a disappointment? All you have to do is type it in. Everybody's opinions matter even if they are different than mine. Scamp4553 will be back with more reviews and content coming your way soon.

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