Evaporated Magazine gave y'all a taste of the new Flatwounds EP a few weeks ago with “Emulator” and now the full release is out for everyone to enjoy. “Chain of Command” is a fascinating, discordant, hardcore rush that challenges the status quo.

"Chain of Command represents how we've evolved and matured as musicians. This is our sound. It's a little weird, dissonant, melodic, and heavy when it needs to be. The title works because most of the songs are about apathy and a lack of action. There's always a 'chain of command' in life, and it keeps you from doing what you want. It could be societal or in your head. You always have to answer to something, though.” Colin O'Hare

When you start pushing back against that chain of command you get a lot of what Flatwounds is singing about. As we exist in a time of near constant injustice, inaction has become its own crime, apathy clings like tar, and the desire to make a difference calls to many.

Listen to “Chain of Command” here

While I delved into “Emulator” in a previous Evaporated article, it . The assembly line-like existence forced upon us by society feels like the source of every problem in modern times. A message delivered through snippets of sermons and winding guitar. It's an explosive beginning to the EP.

“Separate” is the anti-inaction anthem. Delving into the degrees of detatchment that surround us the lyrics go against the choice to wait until something changes. Allowing the excuses of others to justify your own stillness. Paired with these sharp cymbals, a pervasive bassline, and classic hard rock guitar it has a hypnotic feel.

Vocals really steal the show on "Face It". This track continues that campaign against . Going into the important moment where you look in the mirror and decide enough is enough. Instrumentally there's also guitar riffs that would make Tom Morello proud. Punchy, wild, and a lot of screeching flair. It takes you through a full roller coaster of shocking highs and headbanging lows.

What makes "Inertia" my favorite is the way it would fit right in on a 2000s Playstation game soundtrack. It has that old school Creed vocal fry combined with an overall cruising tempo. The sound has that slight haze to it that really feeds into the lyrics about "something slipping from your clutch". It's a more dreamlike track but without feeling slow or boring. The yearning, reaching, energy that it has leaves the EP feeling open ended but not unfinished. Just the wide infinite expanse of possibility.

The music video to "Inertia" matches that early era vibe with washed out visuals, fish eye lenses, and active scenery shots. It abandons the modern, hyper-edited, look for something that feels a lot more real. Just the band in the real world in Twilight movie color. That hometown energy matches the bands general down to earth presence making them feel more approachable than your everyday band.

Watch the video for “Inertia” below;

"Chain of Command" comes at our modern dilemma in a way that is refreshingly introspective. It takes that overall desire for change from this nebulous concept to a more personal journey. On top of being an enjoyable reintroduction of the classic hardcore sound to modern audiences it stirs that nostalgic feeling in older audiences.

Flatwounds will be capping this exciting release off with some touring dates across the spring and summer. Starting with a few shows supporting Excide, they will also be playing Sick New World before heading off across the US with Lip Critic.