Up River

Up River Brighton, UK Est 2011 Up River have written angst ridden hardcore punk since forming in 2011. Over the years their music has only grown more despondent, desperate and dragged down with emotional weight. They offer the soundtrack to their own emotional upheaval and frustrations. Up River are somewhat of an enigmatic entity. With a string of demos, 7”s and digital releases under their belt on labels such as Italy’s awesome Anchors Aweigh, Up River have thus far cultivated a rabid underground fanbase simply with short stabs of melodic post-hardcore, whilst always threatening and teasing something more. Holy Roar Records has never been a label to rest on predictable laurels and we are forever proud that this is reflected in the bands that we continue to support. How is statement relevant to ‘If There Is A God..’, the new EP by Up River? Quite simply because, bucking a wide-reach trend amongst post-hardcore bands to continually soften their sound, Up River have gone Much. Fucking. Heavier. …and thank fuck for that, because it sounds awesome. Whilst, initially, opener ‘Shallow’ lulls you into a false sense of security, before you know it the maelstrom has opened up and you aren’t allowed to come for air until this record ends, five tracks later. ‘Deaf Waltz’ pummels with its 100mph, old-school straight-up hardcore. ‘Ghost Particle’ has an assured, almost cocky swagger to its seething aggression. ‘Charnel House’ is so unhinged that it wouldn’t be wise to listen to it on public transport for fear of what you may enact upon your fellow passengers. Get the picture? Forget any preconceptions you may have regarding Up River. The sun has set on everything this band has done to date. Usher in a new darkness. I.T.I.A.G.T.I.J.M.C - Out now on Holy Roar Spotify - http://tinyurl.com/zajd87c Itunes - http://tinyurl.com/ztlt9dx Bandcamp - http://tinyurl.com/h9l2mfy Youtube - http://tinyurl.com/hffrh7l