The Red Garden
Artist: Freeze the Fall
Genre: Rock
Record Label: 604 Records
Release Date: 18 June 2025
Although Freeze The Fall is fairly new on the metal scene, they are already making waves around the world with their music. Hailing from British Columbia, the band consists of the lead vocalist and guitarist Quinn Mitzel, the bassist and backup vocalist Aria Becker, and the drummer Jonah Goncalves.
The band became popular after its viral cover of The Warning’s “Evolve”, quickly followed by the success of its debut single “Glitch”, securing a spot at 604 Records. After the debut EP Throne, released under its current label, the band is swinging back in full force with its second EP, The Red Garden, produced by Jordan Chase, and with a beautiful artwork on the cover by the one and only Kevin Ellis Moore.
Right off the bat, the release starts with “Denial”, an introductory track that is not short of heavy guitar riffs and extensive drums, right before transitioning into the first full-length track, “Rot”. Having many elements from nu-metal, such as the intense rhythm, the track is energetic and powerful welcoming the listeners.
Continuing with the tracks “Hypothermia”, “VHS” and “Aurora”, the band is keeping a similar narrative throughout the rest of the album, relying on Goncalve’s drumming for the majority of the songs, although the usage of instruments is not limited to any particular pattern. Especially in “VHS” and “Aurora”, the audience can observe the band’s inspiration from bands such as Bring Me The Horizon and Spiritbox. Coming with emotionally charged guitars and gnarly drums, the band is not afraid to dive into heavier music, while keeping their style, adding a surprising twist to “Aurora” with a subtle violin playing in the background. Meanwhile, “Hypothermia” is closer to the likes of Evanescence with its differently constructed melody, and a dramatic breakdown further in the song, adding to the overall mood of the EP.
The last two tracks, “Oubliette” and “Lace”, are continuing with the Evanescence narrative. “Oubliette” provides french lyrics to the listeners, offering a newer perspective, combined with big drum drops. “Lace”, on the other hand, is an entirely different song from the rest. Using the piano as the main instrument, it brings a new twist to the band’s already established style, and creates a beautiful departure from the release.
The Red Garden is an excellent example of the ever-evolving nature of metal, combining and bending well-known elements from famous bands to Freeze The Fall’s advantage. Although some of the tracks sound similar in certain ways, they are not bound to disappoint anyone who is looking for fresh meat on the metal scene.