REVIEW: Cut Short - Modern Affliction
- Mia Gailey
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
Liverpool's CUT SHORT have spent the last few years quietly building a reputation as one of the UK's most promising rising heavy bands. Sharing stages with Wargasm UK, Dream State and Heart Of A Coward, while earning support from BBC Radio 1, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer and Rock Sound, they've steadily proven they are more than another name in the ever-growing metalcore landscape. Their latest EP, Modern Affliction, is further evidence that the hype surrounding them is well deserved.
Across five tracks, the band explore themes of mental health, burnout, addiction and the emotional toll of modern society, creating a record that feels intensely personal while remaining universally relatable. Rather than leaning on familiar genre clichés, CUT SHORT blend hardcore urgency, progressive experimentation and crushing metalcore into something that feels both calculated and unpredictable. Every song carries its own identity, yet together they form a cohesive journey through frustration, despair and resilience.
Opening track Reverie wastes little time establishing the EP's atmosphere. Beginning with an almost deceptive sense of calm, the song gradually builds tension before exploding into a wall of jagged riffs, pummelling drums and emotionally charged vocals. It's an introduction that showcases the band's ability to balance melody with sheer aggression, setting expectations high from the outset. Rather than throwing everything at the listener immediately, the track unfolds naturally, rewarding repeated listens with subtle layers hidden beneath its abrasive exterior.
The title track, Modern Affliction, sees the band at their most direct. Tackling the pressures of contemporary life, the song captures feelings of emotional exhaustion and societal decline without ever becoming preachy. Instrumentally, it demonstrates just how comfortable CUT SHORT are moving between different styles. Bone-crushing breakdowns collide with soaring melodic passages, while progressive influences add depth without distracting from the song's core purpose. It's a standout performance from every member and arguably the EP's defining statement.
Things become even more emotionally charged with Unrequited, a track that explores rejection, longing and unresolved pain. While still undeniably heavy, there's a vulnerability here that gives the song its lasting impact. The dynamic shifts feel purposeful, allowing quieter passages to amplify the intensity when the full band crashes back in. It's a reminder that heaviness isn't simply about volume or speed, but about emotional weight, and CUT SHORT understand that balance exceptionally well.
If there's a heart to Modern Affliction, it's The Worst of Myself. The song perfectly encapsulates the EP's recurring themes of self-doubt and internal conflict, pairing introspective lyricism with some of the release's most memorable instrumentation. Rather than relying solely on relentless aggression, the band demonstrate impressive restraint, allowing moments to breathe before unleashing devastating crescendos. That contrast creates one of the EP's strongest emotional payoffs and highlights CUT SHORT's growing maturity as songwriters.
Closing track Malcontent serves as a fitting conclusion to the journey. Furious from beginning to end, it pulls together everything that has made the previous four songs so compelling. Crushing riffs, relentless percussion and emotionally raw vocals combine with progressive flourishes that never feel excessive or self-indulgent. Instead, the song feels like a final emotional release, ending the record with both impact and purpose while leaving listeners wanting more.
One of Modern Affliction's greatest strengths is its consistency. Every track earns its place, with no filler or unnecessary moments across the EP's concise runtime. The production allows each instrument room to breathe without sacrificing the sheer weight that defines CUT SHORT's sound, while the songwriting continually prioritises atmosphere and emotion over technical showmanship.
In an era where heavy music often risks becoming formulaic, CUT SHORT refuse to remain confined within one subgenre. Their willingness to weave together hardcore intensity, progressive textures and emotionally driven metalcore results in a record that feels authentic rather than manufactured. Modern Affliction is a confident statement from a band finding their identity while pushing themselves creatively, and if this EP is any indication of what's still to come, CUT SHORT are only scratching the surface of their potential.
Score: 9/10
Modern Affliction will be released on 3rd July 2026.
Words: Mia Gailey
Photos: Cut Short
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