REVIEW: Survivalist - A Place For Those Who Suffer, Alone

SURVIVALIST have returned with their sophomore LP, and their first full length release since 2022, A Place For Those Who Suffer, Alone. The twelve tracks have been defined by the band as "groovecore”, and discusses themes of isolation, control and emotional endurance in lived experiences. They've not only been hard at work in the studio too, growing their live reputation by supporting the likes of CHELSEA GRIN, POLARIS and ATREYU, alongside a full UK and Ireland tour with THY ART IS MURDER. After a few singles from the album surpassed a collective 100,000 streams, the release on 30th of January is clearly much awaited by fans.

The album starts off with title track A Place For Those Who Suffer, Alone, which will be joined by a music video release alongside the album release. Starting off strong with an electronic sound before breaking into heavy guitar and vocals ,encasing both their live aggression and the emotional weight that courses throughout the album. Following onto track two is Radio Bleed, where we hear strong lyrics about being wronged by someone trusted.

The record is by no means an isolationist experience though, as a number of other artists join them across the album - one such track is Failure of Being, which includes JOSH SID ROBINSON, one of Ireland's most sought-after heavy producers. The song deftly expresses the band's groovecore style, as a small nu-metal influence becomes noticed. Deathbed is another such track that includes somebody else, as ALEX KOEHLER (formerly of CHELSEA GRIN and AMEONNA) steps up to the mic, whilst SURVIVALIST provide a heavy bass sound that harks back to their earlier work. The final feature is from none other than KID BOOKIE, shortly after his own single release, adding another nu-metal twist onto Speak Up (Louder).

Weaponised God Complex has a clean vocal start that reconnects the listener in a moment of relative calm, before it morphs into a bold and powerful track, full of heavy riffs and fierce vocals. Ruined By Grief further showcases the vocal skills and range of GAVIN SHARP, not least including his potent growling. The vocal line becomes clean once more in Denial In Your Deception, as the instrumentals keep the song heavy, making for a very enjoyable contradiction of vocals and instruments. The lyrics resonate well here, with a lingering feeling to keep the emotions of the album close.

ROT (Redux) comes in with a punch whilst twisting into a softer melody that shows off the creativity of the writing throughout the track and album, with clever hooks and a lot of nuance that is well worth diving into. The rhythmic chorus of I, Tyrant adds a heft that would translate excellently to a live show, as the track would almost certainly incite moshing at a festival. The finale of the album, How Do I Stop Thinking About Death, brings a twist of emotion as it builds from clean vocals to a place of gritty sonics and allows the powerful emotions carried within the song to burst free.

Across these twelve tracks, SURVIVALIST talk about their emotions and feelings in incredibly vulnerable moments, whilst simultaneously making these songs easy enough for any listener to relate to. The album shows a massive step in the right direction for the band, and showcases their success of late as they expand their sound and take on new influences.

Score: 7/10

Words: Angel Turley

Photos: Survivalist