After closing out a stellar summer with Descent in mid-August, Orbit Culture was not quite finished bludgeoning our eardrums. On Dec 1st, 3 brand new tracks were released on an EP titled The Forgotten. 3 unbelievable tracks left off Descent‘s already phenomenal mixture that revealed OC was far from finished when it came to pushing boundaries. From starting this EP in the early winter, to having it loaded on my daily playlists, the depth in which these 3 tracks have was once shadowed to me, but now I understand them on a much deeper level.

The Forgotten continues on Descent‘s spiraling madness, bringing us high velocity rhythms, insatiable melodies, and unrivaled atmosphere. “While We Serve” spurs the continuation with a similar sound and feel to Descent‘s own myriad of flavours, but offers up frightening levels of intensity. Rivaling “Alienated” for speed and aggression, the added visualizer for this track only confirms this song’s convictions – “I have served. I believed in a good deed. I believed we could fix this,” that stokes the flames burning within. A putrid reality. A place where we have chosen haste over haven. Satisfaction over solidarity. Complimented by OC‘s stark pauses fueled by phenomenal instrumental tension and the subsequent fury, this track has easily climbed into people’s minds as an OC classic and favourite.

“The Upheaval” sounds off on a weighted mixture. Keeping the heaviness going, this track brings in sensational new horrors. Blending cleans with crushing lows, the vocals of this track bring in wave after wave of emotional turmoil. It explores the inner struggles one faces on a daily basis with verses like, “the feral nature is all I can see, I’ve been killing some parts of myself only to feel them.” Expressed in a fit of fiery clarity, it’s easily a song that winds through personal struggle not simply on lyrical and vocal composition alone, but on the melody as well. Menacing drums, strummed in with dreaded bass lines and rapid, almost sporadic riff work compliment the verses, bringing new realization to the heaviness truly underlying this track.

“Sound of the Bell” rings true, opening the curtain once more on the level of violence now conquering our lives. This track brings more than melodic mystery in its notes. It’s a cool, almost calm bass line that chimes us into this horror. Reliving the nightmares of mass shootings and a thirst for vengeance, the heart-wrenching lyrics contrast the weight of this track, calling forth for remembrance and revelation. “If this is the last time I will hold your hand, I’ll always remember this last time I’ll see you,” is a line that stands not only as strong and sorrowful in its essence, but one that is backed by mourningful sound. Built up like a concrete monument for the final moments, the final breath taken before fear takes hold, this track shows the depth in which OC stands to portray. It’s a track that’s weighed down by its all too real message of failure from a nation, a world that treasures gore and victory over safe haven and understanding. It’s lyrically dynamic and unbreakable in vividly painting of the horrors all too true to our world. Blending bursts of rhythmic guitars with low, and saddening sound, this song boasts not only OC‘s compositional strengths musically but lyrically displays an array of emotion, and reflection in both speech and tone.

The Forgotten is a continuation and yet another layer of revelation to Descent‘s extensive and passionate track-list. It strides safely of its own accord yet somehow winds out Descent‘s wealth of emotion with the perfect sounding of bells. It’s an EP that sets you up for greatness. You listen in with excitement for the heaviness, and the vocal ferocity, but as you peel away the messages, and the stories retold, you begin to hold them much closer than you’d truly anticipated. With a blend of speed, sorrow, weight, and wonder, this EP is an easy introduction for those wishing to dip their toes into the blackened and unyielding orbit.

You can grab your own copy of The Forgotten via Orbit Culture‘s Bandcamp, and don’t forget to stay up-to-date with concerts, news, and announcements by following the band’s socials like Instagram and Facebook, including the fan accounts run by the unofficial fifth member, Ben!