Are you itching to find that band that sounds like all of the ones you loved from your High School days? One that doesn’t conform to genre barriers, yet fits perfectly into their sound like a warm blanket on a cold night? Then look no further than Canadian foursome, Castlefield. The band’s’ debut EP “Tunnel Vision” has been a must play for me over the past couple of days, and I’m here to tell you why it needs to be added to your 2018 favorites list immediately.
Best Laid Plans:
This is the song that introduced me to Castlefield, being the first single released off of the EP. It’s cleaner cut than the bands’ previous release, “The Mascot EP” and showcases the tremendous growth that the band has gone through in just one year. It’s a fun, upbeat track that drips with nostalgia and plays into the theme of the EP; despite the uncertainty that comes with life and growing up, our mistakes don’t define us and this too shall past.
Beginning with “Best Laid Plans” also starts the EP on a more positive note, seeing as the songs seem to get a bit more sullen as you run through the tracks. An added bonus is the music video that they put out with the song, which you can watch here.
Heaven Sent:
My personal favorite. It has the perfect combination of angry and sad, something that every music lover yearns for on a debut EP; well, maybe not, but I definitely do. This song is also a terrific transition from the softer melodies of Best Laid Plans into the grungier, sadder sound that is “Heaven Sent”. Lyrically, I believe this song to be Castlefield’s most mature and creative, with my favorite line being “contain all your thoughts in a jar by the door, I wanna tell you that I’m innocent but you’ll come back with running metaphors”.
The imagery that this song holds and the passion in vocalist Ryan Fitz’s voice shows the deeper trauma that comes from the track and the therapeutic essence that comes from singing it. I appreciate the risk that the band took to include it on the EP, as I think that it will slowly become a fan favorite and give the band a new direction for future releases.
Joyless:
Joyless is that song that every confused and upset kid/teenager/young adult needs to get them through a time of uncertainty and self-doubt. The song goes from a tale of confusion and frustration to pure anger in the bridge, telling a cohesive story of self-doubt in the midst of your first love. Fitz’s vocals are desperate and comforting, both to himself and to listeners. I believe that this song was so well received by fans and myself is because we all have that one person in our lives who only sees us as doing our best when we feel absolutely helpless; perfectly stated in the line “I’m a goddamn mess but I swear I’ll get better in time; in your eyes, still doing just fine”. The raw essence alone is what made this second-single a standout track for the EP.
Escape:
The final track of “Tunnel Vision” was surprising to me, as it begins as a ballad, slowly transforming into the angry, cathartic vocals and loud guitars that we needed to end this four-track introduction to Castlefield. Musically, this song is one of the most dynamic off of the record due to the way the heavy guitar and drums mix together with the emotion of the lyrics, making it one of those songs you want to scream in the car in the middle of the night. With a dramatic ending and one final drum-fill, “Escape” wraps up the EP exactly the way that it was started: dripping with anguish and excitement in the form of 3 minute poems and heavy guitars.
The raw emotion throughout this EP is what makes Castlefield so beloved to their fans and friends alike. The lyrics tell true stories and embody human emotion in a tragically beautiful way, causing listeners to want to soak up every word in hopes of learning more about the story behind the songs. I have no doubt in my mind that Castlefield are setting themselves up for great success and I can’t wait to see the new year bring them that.
Don’t forget to follow Castlefield on their socials below and catch the band on tour throughout Canada and the East Coast next month!
