this is goodbye… - Chamber
Chamber’s newest album this is goodbye… is an all-out assault on the senses in the best way possible. The album is 12 tracks and 30 minutes of absolute chaos, but a controlled chaos that you can follow along to. When this record hit my inbox, I had no clue what I was getting into, as Chamber was a new band to me. After blaring this record on my speakers for a few weeks now, I can say that Chamber fills a void left by Arsonists Get All the Girls and iwrestledabearonce - two bands I dearly miss in the Mathcore scene (yeah, I know iwrestledabearonce needed to die so Spiritbox could be born, but I still miss the chaos). this is goodbye… feels like Jazz time signatures fucking a buzzsaw, and I mean that as a compliment!
“arms of eternity” is a killer way to kick off a record, with the end of the track bleeding into “scarlet ink”, which I’m always a sucker for. “scarlet ink” is one of the few tracks to have some vocal melody, and I love how they use it as a bridge between track one and two. “violins” is a great example of the chaotic Mathcore sound while also offering a bratty clean vocal section that sounds more Pop-Punk than Metalcore, but I love it nonetheless. The build-up around the 1:30 mark is especially fun before hitting you with a nice, crunchy breakdown that isn’t overcomplicated. “surveillance” is a quick 1:23 of buzzsaw Mathcore partying with Hardcore that ends with a breakdown launching into “parting gift”. The rest of the tracks on the album are also worth checking out, so take my call-outs as suggestions to get your foot in the door, but stay for the whole thing. This record is a blast to listen to!
this is goodbye… does not slow down or give you a moment to breathe, feeling like a full sprint for 30 minutes straight. Everything is cranked to 11, and the entire band clearly showed up when it came time to record, though I question if each member showed up to the recording sessions playing Edward 40-Hands with two Monster BFC cans (if you know, you know) strapped to their hands just based on the pure energy exerted on this album. Everything is raw, stripped back, crude, belligerent, and messy, but in the best way possible. The recording isn’t sterile and the album feels alive, though the mix can be a little questionable, with the vocals sometimes getting buried under the noise. Despite this minor problem, the record is a force to be reckoned with and one I can count as a favorite for 2026 so far. Chamber’s sound is certainly an acquired taste, even for the Metal lover, but it’s a taste I have in spades. Please check this record out when it releases on March 27th, 2026!