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In a year that has seen every major alternative music trend from the 2000s come back in full force, it's not surprise that there has been some noise on the rap metal and rapcore front too. Doomed with an endless cycle of inevitable demise and flashy rebirth, the genre has been widely snubbed as irrelevant and repetative, but every now and then a new band raises to the challenge of giving it that extra spark. Entering the ever-expanding Arising Empire roster, it is Borders (UK) who might just be the underdog hero the scene needs.
Hailing from Lincolnshire and absorbing the UK's affinity to grime affairs and rich legacy in producing high quality rapcore acts, the band appears determined to make noise with a fresh blend of nu metal energy, metalcore fury, hip hop sensibility and all things nice. Borders easily got in my radar with their thunderous Arising Empire debut 'FADE TO BLACK' and subsequent teamup with Dropout Kings in 'NWWM', but it was their third single 'SUFFER' that really showed a new player has entered the scene and intends to stay for good.
Borders' brand new release BLOOM SEASON makes for an interesting case study of the past, present and future of rap metal, the dynamic alternative music landscape in the UK, and the questionable role of the record label in 2022. It is a loud and bold effort with all the charge, ambition and swagger you can expect from a sophomore album by a rising act that dropped their debut just before the pandemic put a stop in their future plans. And for those that did notice Purify in 2019, this is also a major step forward.
You can easily put a rapcore label on them and get the gatekeepers on their toes, or follow their official description as "ferocious, hard-hitting metalcore in a blender with elements of hip-hop, grime, hardcore and alternative metal, [...] with a dash of introspection and more than its fair share of brazen, no-holds-barred atmosphere". Either way, from the first seconds you know you are dealing with a force of nature that presents early rap metal nostalgia, modern heavy trends and enough forward-thinking to secure their bright future.
The UK has produced some established heavyhitters on the djenty grime-infused end, with Hacktivist immediately jumping to mind, alongside The One Hundred (I do miss these guys...) but Borders appear to be set on making a name in their own terms. I have noticed that although the English accent adds a unique gritty flavour, it can be a showstopper for international audiences. However, these guys add so much vocal variety with the perfect synergy between Jordan Olifent and Gavin Burton, as well as the stellar personnel involved in the making of BLOOM SEASON that should easily balance the scales for the doubters.
To get a sense of the drive, condifence and ambition behind the quartet, the two featurings in BLOOM SEASON present much more than two certified modern metal bangers. On one side, 'NWWM' sees them team up with Dropout Kings for an exemplary transatlantic rapcore madness that blends the best of both the US hip hop and UK grime modern trends. On the other, 'GODLESS' unleashes the beast that is Cane Hill's Elija Witt as another stamp of a approval by a proven contemporary powerhouse in the scene.
Outside of this, BLOOM SEASON offers a pretty diverse and bouncy selection of ragers, starting with the restless triad of 'FADE TO BLACK', 'FIX THIS' and 'SUFFER'. The album immediately sucks you in and gradually develops in all its diverse aspects, from the honest and punchy 'I GET HIGH' and 'GASSLIGHT' to the electrifying 'CUT THE ROPE' and 'MDM' before its self-titled finale that is bound to start many moshpits in the near future.
Aside from being the product of a dynamic local scene bursting with talent and constantly evolving to lead the global trends, BLOOM SEASON is above all the introspective lovechild of the fantastic guys in Borders. Jordan Olifent's bars are on fire from start to finish, Gavin Burton's guitars are razor sharp throughout, and his screams add that much-needed spark, while Tom Britton's bass and Dan Hodson's drums are a thing of modern metal beauty.
Borders are easily one of 2022's best band we haven't heard of previously, and you have to give it to Arising Empire for scouting, signing and pushing them to the forefront of a scene that desperately needs fresh blood. In the modern landscape, bands can easily make it on their own, but BLOOM SEASON is a clear statement that a label with the right mindset, values and community can be a game changer for bands like this and cannot be ignored. Borders are steadily on course for future glory and things are about to get much louder.
Borders - 'BLOOM SEASON'
Country: UK (England)
Released: 18 November 2022
Label: Arising Empire
Tracklisting:
1. 'FADE TO BLACK'
2. 'FIX THIS'
3. 'SUFFER'
4. 'NWWM' (ft. Dropout Kings)
5. 'I GET HIGH'
6. 'GASLIGHT'
7. 'GODLESS' (ft. Cane Hill)
8. 'CUT THE ROPE'
9. 'MDM'
10. 'BLOOM SEASON'
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