REVIEW

The third EP from Texas metalcore band fromjoy.

Based in Houston, fromjoy present this release as the concluding chapter of the Icarus narrative that has unfolded since their debut EP “It Lingers.” While metalcore remains the foundation, the band further expands its palette by weaving in breakbeats, drum and bass, hyperpop, and vaporwave, pushing their hybrid style into more exploratory territory.

A major turning point arrived in August 2024, when lead vocalist Denver Dowling departed. Guitarist and backing vocalist Kellan King subsequently shifted into the role of primary vocalist. This lineup change appears to have accelerated a stylistic evolution: while maintaining the band’s metalcore–electronic fusion, fromjoy significantly increases the presence of clean vocals from guitarist Giovanni Alani. The result suggests a more melodic and atmospheric direction, with shoegaze textures now playing a visible role in shaping the sound.

Highlighted tracks

#1 “Etana”
Opening with a sample from the previous EP’s closing track “Icarus,” this brief introduction underscores the narrative continuity of the project, framing the EP as a direct extension—and conclusion—of the story.

#2 “Monochrome”
The track begins with an ethereal, electronic introduction reminiscent of new age and trip-hop, before shifting into a melancholic, heavy shoegaze passage that may recall Deftones. In the latter half, the floating ambience gives way to a sudden breakdown built on an oppressive, Vildhjarta-like riff. The prominence of clean vocals reportedly surprised some longtime listeners, though positioning this song as the lead single seems intended to signal a new chapter for the band. It stands as one of the EP’s most defining statements.

#3 “Eternal.Harvest”
Here, aggressive metalcore sections transition sharply into shoegaze-laden choruses. Dreamlike electronic layers intertwine with clean vocals, adding contrast and depth. While fromjoy have featured clean vocals before, the integration feels more organic this time, enhancing the shoegaze character of the track.

#4 “Ataraxia”
Following the metalcore–shoegaze crossover established in “Eternal.Harvest,” this track introduces an ambient passage accented by piano in its latter half. The blurred, glowing textures evoke a digital, otherworldly light, suggesting both the end of the Icarus saga and the beginning of something new.

Artwork and narrative

Viewed in release order, the artwork reinforces this transformation. “Monochrome” depicts a powerless Icarus connected by wires; “Eternal.Harvest” presents a cocoon-like state of transition; and the EP “Ataraxia” culminates in an image of rebirth, with Icarus reimagined as a radiant, winged being. The progression appears to suggest a fallen figure gaining new life and ascending once more—an apt visual metaphor for the band’s own renewal.

Worldbuilding and influences

fromjoy’s aesthetic draws heavily from early digital art, particularly the cyber visuals of the PlayStation 2 era, as well as the anime serial experiments lain. On earlier releases such as the breakcore-leaning EP “away,” the track “Digital Armageddon” even incorporates spoken lines from the anime. Giovanni Alani’s frequent appearance onstage in lain T-shirts further hints at a deep personal affinity. Notably, the illustration used for the first pressing of the band’s self-titled vinyl—bearing a striking resemblance to Lain—was reportedly created after the designer instinctively sensed that influence from the band’s sound alone.

The enduring global reach of lain continues to resonate in unexpected ways.

Taken together, this EP reads as a declaration of rebirth for fromjoy. Whether the band ultimately becomes a bridge between metalcore and shoegaze remains to be seen, but their trajectory is compelling. Compared with more extreme hybrids such as Kardashev’s deathgaze, fromjoy’s approach appears more accessible to traditional shoegaze listeners, which may broaden its appeal. As artists exploring this crossover continue to increase, this strain of Nu-Gaze-adjacent metalcore could well be the next movement to watch.