It seems as if everyone and their fucking mother has the urge to start a metal-core band these days. Always reminiscent of consummate talent like Misery Signals or Shai Hulud but never truly are they sport on. A copycat, or sense of being catfished, is what most listeners are left with. Fuck, even the word “metal-core” these days is considered a sin to say for reasons known and unknown. Why not though? When so many musicians are trying to emulate a genre that has held some of the most emotionally and passionately driven records of all time, it often leaves us with a hollowed sound of artificiality. Fortunately, this isn’t necessarily the case for every band.

Idle Minds formed out of New Jersey a few years back with an attitude that was yearning for giving something of substance back to their music scene. To say this was going to be a process of falling down and getting back up is an understatement. Still, like any passionate group of musicians, the boys in Idle Minds stuck their heads up and faced each wall with ramming speed.

In Growth & Loss isn’t a record intended to reshape the genre. Rather, it is but an honest and heartfelt contribution of work inspired by their own emotions. Emotions resulted from existing in this ever harsh reality. A reality that we as living beings all share. Aggression, sorrow, and longing hope are themed extensively throughout this short yet impacting EP.

The extended player here is quite the proper example of how to stand out in what is an overpopulated genre. Neither too heavy or typical in how they construct their bridges nor is there an overbearing hold of artificialness on the tracks. As I said before, the emotional output of honesty from In Growth & Loss is more than enough for one to respect the work they are making. Because of their sincerness this record naturally follows suit in what is a combination of harmonic rawness and aggressive undertones within the musical aspect of writing. Michael Yager did quite well with the recording process for what it’s worth (seriously, prospect stuff mate so keep at it) but I would personally like to see what these guys could do a few months down the road at a well equipped studio.

There is plenty of room for this band to expand on in the coming years. Overall, Idle Minds knows who they are and where they intend on being. Only time, experience, and passion will lead them to where they ought to be. Now, this statement being made might sound like a downplay, but I assure you it is not. Idle Minds is on an excellent platform based off of their talent with writing, performing, and general dedication to the game. This is a promising act that need only to maintain the drive and desire of being musicians. Definitely worth keeping eyes and ears fixed on these kids in the coming year.

Anyway, catch Idle Minds this month at the PLP Log Cabin on the 18th of this month for their In Growth & Loss EP release show release show. Smith Dojo Productions is footing this bill and features quite the lineup. Check that and our interview with Nick Abela below..

INTERVIEW WITH NICK ABELA

HEAD WALK: Idle Minds is one of several bands out of New Jersey hitting the circuit rather well. With a scene filled with diversity, musical styles, and half assedness, why the decision towards this route of music? I.E the melodic hardcore genre.

Nick Abela: Starting a melodic hardcore band was actually a joke at first. Original Idle Minds circa 2014 contained different members and we were like a djent/metalcore band. A few of us were at practice one day and started talking about Counterparts, Hundredth and bands like that in which we jammed some riffs and started piecing tracks together. There were some discrepancies in the direction the band was headed at the time and unfortunately we had some departures. Nonetheless, playing melodic hardcore in New Jersey definitely makes us stick out. The amount of talent out there in the music scene is unbelievable.

HW: Lyrically, there seems to be themes of sadness and somber tones of emotion within In Growth & Loss. Where do you see the lyricism from this record compared to your previous releases? Furthermore, how did the writing (musically) differ from the older drops?

NA: Lyrically, this record isn’t all that different to previous releases (Dead Shelter Demos). Louie, Dom, and myself all enjoy feeling a connection with those who support, listen, see us, etc. Everybody in this band goes through struggles. Depression, anxiety, or whatever it may be, everyone is just like every other human being on this earth. If we’re able to help connect our lyrics that are written about a controversial time in our lives and it helps that person? Then we’re as successful as any signed band touring the world. We’re not in it for the money in any way shape or form. Do we all wish to make music a career? Absolutely.

Our main goal as a band at this current point in time is to create a piece of art that other individuals can use to help them cope with whatever they are going through.

Writing this record musically was extremely different for us as a band. Our old guitarist Willie wrote probably 95% of our material. I would throw my input here and there to spruce up some parts but the writing was predominantly Willie. After his departure I realized that I had to step up to the plate and make sure that our debut EP is something that is entertaining and helpful to those who listen to us.

HW: What is the intention or goal of Idle Minds?

NA: Our main goal at this point in time is to spread ourselves across the country while sharing a message of hope and resilience when things seem bleak in everybody’s lives. If we can get to the point where we can constantly tour the nation as a full time career, we absolutely would.

HW: You guys are slated to go on tour with Refinement and Homestead this month. How did that all get put together and what should fans expect?

NA: The Death Won’t Hold You Tour was a thought that Dom and I had back in November. We thought about expanding our market and touring up and down the east coast. Wanted our tour package to include our close friends in Homestead and Refinement. You can absolutely expect every band to bring an obscene amount of energy, passion, and emotion into their set every night.

HW: Anyone you’d like to shout out or thanks before we close this one up?

NA: We want to give a shoutout to our boys in Homestead and Refinement for helping us create memories and giving us a great time every night. Our boy at Arnold Parmesan Studios, Mike Yager for helping us create our debut record and doing an absolute killer job, and the rest of the Tri-State music scene for killing it and making our music scene the strongest in the nation.

Well, that’s a wrap on this one. Be sure to catch them on tour this year and to snag a copy of the new record, In Growth & Loss, over at their bandcamp or live at a show.