Picture this; it’s a Sunday morning, you’ve got chores to do, the cat won’t stop meowing and there is no food in the house. So you decide to chuck on some music to bring some energy to this murky sky morning.
False Idol has the capability to get you out of that daybreak slump. Established in 2021, Cardiff, originating members found solidarity in bleak lockdown. Turning that sentiment into the momentum that pushed them further into 2022 that saw them sharing the stage with acts such as Whitechapel, Black Tongue, Funeral For A Friend and Hawthorne Heights. Fast forward to 2026 and the band is back with a passion to push their music to the masses. For fans of Architects, Northlane and Bad Omens.
Starting off the EP with the most anticipated single alongside its corresponding music video released on the same day, Ghost in My Head. Building anticipation with distorted synthesisers before introducing us to the assertive first verse. Keeping the guttural vocals imposing while the cleans slowly begin to harmonise. Technically the song is well balanced, keeping the drums punchy throughout.
And who doesn’t love a tight guitar riff that you find yourself tapping to on beat? Especially when it’s distorted in a mechanised way.
If you’re a fan of Doomsday by Architects, known for its atmospheric grief-stricken tone and intense sound shift between verses, then you will feel right at home listening to Ghost in My Head. I promise you fellow listeners, you won’t be ‘left to wonder why’ Following up nicely with a chuggy guitar riff, The Space Between locks the audiences’ attention in from the get go. In a vocal style that feels reminiscent of early Sleep Token, the verse serenades us in a subdued timbre all the while building tension adjacent to a solid bassline.
As the song progresses we flit between flirtatious singing and gravelly growls. Despite the compelling vocal delivery, the instrumentals took the spotlight. You can’t help but feel the addictive rhythm of the song, it lures you into groove before you even realise you have been looping it five times. It's almost criminal the repeatability of the song (don’t tell Spotify haha). Especially the final breakdown that catches your breath, the synchronised drums and guitar riff gets you prepared to kick off. This song for sure will be a killer performed live, bonus points if it starts a mosh pit.
Armageddon threw a curveball when played chronologically in the EP. Commencing on a piano solo and silky vocals, you might mistakenly assume you clicked the wrong song. Echoing the backing vocals while a synthesised beat leaks in as it fades into a peaceful end. While the energy change is polarising compared to tracks one and two on the EP, it is a welcomed one…until that false sense of security is ripped away and a thickass breakdown appears from out of nowhere two minutes into the song.
It’s the type of deviation that makes you jump where it’s overpowering but in the best way. The namesake Armageddon is fitting since it does shit the life out of you. Rounding off an enjoyable EP with the finishing track False Idol, the namesake. A satisfying conclusion to this solid piece of work. Wasting no time throwing the listener into a brilliantlybouncy guitar riff. Combining the technical qualities that remind the listener of Architects and a vocal delivery comparable to Bring me the Horizon’s song Thrown, you immediately have a winner. It’s so easy to visualise this song as a closure to an amazing night out, you’re tipsy enough to remember the night but drunk enough that everything still feels fuzzy.
Heading banging to the rhythmic drums then dancing along to the vivacious beat. To summarise, False Idol tells me everything I need to know about this band: they’re eager, excited and have a lot to say. Considering this is their first ever EP release, you never would have known. Surely the scene is excited to see where these guys are headed? Not only is their sound polished, it’s sophisticated while keeping the listener eager for more.
This listener can confidently say that these four songs were not enough! Looking forward to catching these guys in the future.
