REVIEW: Chalk Hands - The Line That Shapes the Coast of Us
- Naomi Colliar Duff
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Brighton screamo/post-rockers CHALK HANDS are soon to release their sophomore album; they planted the seeds of their sound with their debut record Don’t Think About Death, incorporating elements of screamo, ambient, post-hardcore, and math rock, and with their new release The Line That Shapes the Coast of Us, we witness those seeds grow into something massive: a record that very much defines the band.
Intro Ember Lane is CHALK HANDS laying all their cards flat out; they showcase each and every element that will be running through the record, and incorporate it all into a track that’s not just a banger in its own right, but a functional teaser for the eleven-track journey we’re in for. We’re led in with a shimmering intro, shoegazey elements the immediate forefront of the track. There’s a sombreness to it, yet it feels freeing at the same time. A light guitar riff joins the mix, and leads into a rolling drumbeat, which establishes an intensity for classic screamo vocals to capitalise on.
Pauvre de Moi follows after and hits the ground running, leading in with a frenzied clash of drums and racing guitars. Despite the fact this is sung entirely in French, the vocals are strong enough to wrench at our heartstrings, emotionally captivating even in another language. Day Glow is as the name suggests, a lighter track; calmer strings lead us into a brief respite from this inner turmoil. This doesn’t last forever though - a minute in, familiar math rock riffs make an appearance, harmonic guitars intertwining their melodies.
Later on, A Comfort You Borrow turns up the intensity, throwing us into a harsh wall of sound before giving way to some groovy repeated riffs; this is the shortest track of the album, but it serves as a strong tie-in to follower Peregrine. Drums crash like cliffside rocks into the ocean, and harsh waves of sound roll in one after another, sweeping us over and bringing us out to sea with them, where we float, aimlessly, surrounded by ambient peace and brief, soft, echoing vocals. It’s not long before we’re back in the swell, though, with a chaotic harshness that leaves our ears ringing. It’s this kind of contrast that CHALK HANDS excel at; they’re able to channel the forces of dark and light, of hope and bleakness, into their music, leaving us torn between emotional states.
A Surefire Way to Disappear is a perfect example of this - the introductory ambient-shoegaze section is a beautiful composition in itself, and it soon brings us into a chaotic soundscape backed by the lyrics that lend themselves to this record’s title: “A line that shapes the coast of us/We live by the ocean/And die by the ocean”. If there was one track to represent this LP, it would be this. Rewired Eyes goes heavy on the screamo, harsh dissonance the main element of this track; the guitar rhythms of Tom Lester and Antoine Mansion do well to offset it between sections, intertwining melodies with Ben Moore’s basslines throughout. Your Skin Is Gold serves as a showcase for the talents of CHALK HANDS’ drummer, Gary Marsden, incorporating blast beats, ringing percussion clashes, and an anticipatory build-up to the finale backed by repeated chants that echo the track’s title. These vocals fade out to mere echoes, bringing the album to an end quietly and calmly. Sleep Tapes is more an epilogue than a finisher, a tranquil almost-instrumental piece that gives us closure to this emotional journey. They cap off this record by leaving us with a question: “What sky will I meet/When I finally sleep?”
The Line That Shapes the Coast of Us is a defining record for CHALK HANDS; unpredictable, unique, and covering every possible point on the musical spectrum of their influences. Waves of post-hardcore, screamo, and math-rock crash into each other, rolling over and spilling onto sands of tranquil ambience. Undiscovered brilliance lies with this band, but with this record in this repertoire, they’re sure to reach new heights.
Score: 8/10
The Line That Shapes the Coast of Us will be released on 27th March 2026 via Dog Knights Productions.
Words: Naomi Colliar Duff
Photos: Chalk Hands
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