By TJ Hayes
While She Sleeps have come a long way in their career since they first came into the scene thanks to a free CD in Metal Hammer back in 2006. The metalcore group hailing from Sheffield have developed to become a true standard bearer of the stage, the consistency that is associated with their music is undeniable and has contributed to the buzz that begins to grow with the imminence of a new While She Sleeps release. The buzz certainly feels less present than before, but that can come down to how quickly So What? was announced, and also the fact it follows on from the frankly epic You Are We cycle. Despite this, the band have continued to brew their distinct brand of DIY heaviness and have a lot more in store than most people will likely be ready for.
So What? starts out coming in full force with the first single “Anti-Social” for which the band also released a music video for. This track is such a perfect opener for this band and for this album. The rest of the singles they dropped all followed suit. The song “Haunt Me” carries buzzing guitars across a powerful, piercing chorus – the latter being one of most significant skills that While She Sleeps have added to their game of late. From start to finish, this album is filled with great tracks from the heavy metal-turned-spitting-bars of “Inspire” and “Back Of My Mind”, the brutality of “Elephant”or the catchy, more melodic tracks like “Good Grief”. There’s elaborate guitar work aplenty, utterly scream-along, lung-bursting choruses, and some of the most technical drumming that Adam Savage has ever tracked.
So What? asks the uncomfortable questions and points fingers at the evils of our society today, from defeatism to our inability to see the signs of decline around us. Seeking change and looking to inspire, While She Sleeps rock through a collection of tracks blending metal grit with punk rock attitude, hardcore brutality, undeniably catchy riffs, and a zillion other, myriad influences. The end result is a band who will have you singing along to their intelligent and timely lyrics while banging your head and tossing up the metal horns.
