Half A Life

Eden Eyes

Eden Eyes releases their eagerly-awaited debut EP, *Half A Life*, marking a significant evolution from their origins as a school-based cover band. Over the past year, they have garnered recognition within Singapore’s underground scene, embracing themes of grief, loss, and heartbreak with raw intensity. Rejecting the polished sounds typical of contemporary metal, the EP delivers relentless aggression, co-produced, mixed, and mastered by Islam Falmi (Darah). The inclusion of ambient cicada sounds, a sound universally heard all over the country, captures the loneliness and introspection the band sought to evoke. The opening track, "Wasteland," establishes a brooding atmosphere characterised by sinister deathcore influences and vulnerable lyrics, culminating in a brutally emotional breakdown with vocalist Russell’s impactful performance. The second track, "Interloper II," follows seamlessly, offering a dynamic and virtuosic guitar solo by Ethan, and achieving quick acclaim with significant streaming numbers. It provides a brief respite of structured familiarity amidst the EP’s overall ferocity. "Sisyphean," the third track, showcases a strikingly aggressive start reminiscent of Knocked Loose. Its chant-worthy chorus and complex rhythmic shifts culminate in a colossal breakdown, likely the heaviest on the EP, affirming the band's intensity and audience engagement potential. "Gangrene," the fourth track and debut single, explores themes of hopelessness and defeatism through heavy instrumentation and unpredictable time-signature shifts. It disorients yet engages listeners through aggressive breakdowns and memorable lyrical callbacks to the EP’s title. Contrary to its modest description as a filler track, "the final act of love" is an emotive instrumental interlude infused with melancholic guitars, cicada ambiance, and impactful dialogue samples from the film *500 Days (Of Summer)*, poignantly encapsulating themes of letting go. The concluding title track, "Half A Life," begins introspectively before erupting into emotionally charged riffs and raw, heartbreaking vocals. The EP climaxes in an intense breakdown, punctuated by Russell's evocative, prolonged scream, encapsulating the overarching emotional narrative. *Half A Life* firmly establishes Eden Eyes as an uncompromising and compelling presence in the regional heavy music landscape.