Glass Eyes "Liminality" Preview

Review by: Paul Thorson, Hip-Hop Writer @PaulyT03
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC

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Trading turntable scratches for bruises and broken necks, Glass Eyes and their inaugural EP “Liminality” is a story about the resurgence of original inspiration and influence.
Glass Eyes is a freshly formed nu-metal band in the Twin Cities, but the band members' experience in the genre dates back over a decade. Out of the five members of Glass Eyes, four of them are currently part of the St. Paul-based hip-hop label B&E Music.
Vocalists Walrus the Human and J. PRYNGLZ, guitarist I/O the ProcessR, and bassist Poppa Squat all reside within the creative space of the hip-hop label. Drummer Benjamin Tosel A.K.A “Mesh Mouth” spreads his talent across multiple bands in the Twin Cities, including Wakefield and Careful Gaze.

Before B&E Music formed, however, each member of Glass Eyes had been a part of separate metal bands. Their bands would all cross paths in the early 2010s, playing at metal shows throughout the Twin Cities. Ultimately, these shows would be the catalyst for the creation of B&E Music. While 80% of Glass Eyes’ members have focused on hip-hop recently, this metal-heads-at-heart wanted to step back on the scene with a vengeance.

Liminality

The word “liminality” is defined as a state of transition between one stage and the next, usually an air of uncertainty. This title is quite fitting for Glass Eyes’ debut project. With every member of this band having their individual focuses in music, turning back to their roots and forming a band speaks of a great transition.
Moreover, “Liminality” also foreshadows what’s to come from the young band. As the members of Glass Eyes are cannonballing back into the Nu-Metal genre, an EP is an appropriate buffer for something bigger to come.

Copious Thunder & a Dash of Lightening

“Liminality” doesn’t just start--no, that wouldn’t be metal enough--instead, the EP jumps out of a speeding vehicle trying to beat the fuck out of the pavement. “Congratulations,” the first released single kicks off “Liminality” immediately.
The charismatic chaos of this opening track is a picturesque sample size for Glass Eyes’ sound and influence, consisting of a litany of metal, punk, grunge, and alt-rock of the late 90s and early 2000s. In a nutshell, “Liminality” feels like a Frankenstein time capsule of mid-2000s 93X.
The band’s duo of vocalists, J.PRYNGLZ and Walrus the Human create a color contrast. J. PRYNGLZ is the anchor with his deep, thunderous, and guttural vocal performance balances out the smooth and precise lightening of Walrus the Humans vocals.

Omens on the Horizon

The second track, “Shavenblight,” keeps the pace of “Congratulations” with a more abrupt cadence. However, the high octane pace takes a sacrificial jump off a cliff in “Omens.”
The hypnotizing guitar duet paired with the subtle melody of Walrus the Human create an inverse of energy in the third track--until the two-minute mark when calming leap finally meets the Earth. In its seven-minute runtime, “Omens” goes through three distinct passages, giving the energy of multiple tracks rolled up in one.

“If you hit the dog, expect to get bit.”

— Walrus the Human & J. PRYNGLZ, "Omens"

Earthquakes & War Games

In the penultimate track, “This is Earthquake Country,” the lead guitar brightens to more colorful but still grungy rifts while the bass paves the way to the truest of grime. Walrus the Human utilizes hip-hop cadences during the bridges midway through the track as J. PRYNGLZ provides backing takes to make a satisfying crossover of a metal melody.

Glass Eyes ends “Liminality” with a statement in the track “War Games.” The song's content criticizes the United State’s industrial war machine. These war games played around the world are not to protect the people but to protect the profit.

““The powers that be will usher in a new generation of willing bodies strung to the churning jaws of death before they abandon any profit.””

— J. PRYNGLZ, "War Games"

“Liminality” Release

Glass Eye’s debut EP “Liminality” will release this Thursday, December 16th. They will celebrate the release on the same day with a show at Part Wolf featuring Logan Micheals and the band Obstructionist.