Their Evolve EP out now, Irish nu-metalcore outfit Following The Signs continue to spin singles off from it, the latest being the title track, also out now.
Featuring Alan Jevens (vocals), Noel Crowley and Vincent Renoux (guitars), Rory Taylor (bass) and Chris Hanlon (drums), Following The Signs formed in Cork, Ireland in 2018. The band has carved a reputation for blending crushing metalcore with the raw groove of nu-metal and progressive textures, as heard on their debut album Conflictions and subsequent singles.
Speaking about the EP’s title track, Jevens said: “‘Evolve’ is the song that ties the whole EP together. In every song there is a battle, be it with yourself, your life or others.
“The concept of Evolve is that even when you figuratively build walls around yourself through lack of confidence, or when you feel like you’re going through hell and don’t see a way back out — that you will never be enough — all you need to do is take your time and you will make it through anything life may throw at you.
“This song has so much meaning for me personally, as I have gone through many tough times and no matter how bad things get I always come out stronger and better off than before. My hope is that this song can inspire listeners to push through their own struggles and evolve into the strongest person they are born to be.”
Regarding the EP as a whole, the band said: “Evolve is a massive step into a new direction for the band. This process really made us push the boundaries of what we sound like. This EP shows a new side of the band, taking a more melodic approach in certain elements of our sound. With the addition of our new vocalist, we have a more well-rounded sound, which forced us to experiment with new tones and elements.”
Tracks featured on Evolve are: ‘Stuck In Place’, ‘Call To Rise’, ‘Break The Frame’, ‘Evolve’ and ‘Infectious’. The band’s first single from the EP was ‘Stuck In Place’, followed by ‘Call To Rise’, written as a rallying cry for those living under oppression, whether imposed by individuals, systems or governments. The track urges listeners to rise up and fight for what they believe is worth defending, a message that sits at the heart of the EP.
Following the same listing order as on their EP, Following The Signs’ third single was ‘Break The Frame’, calling listeners to reject imposed limitations and carve their own path, regardless of opposition.
“‘Break The Frame’ is written with the idea of living in a simulation connected to a machine, the mainframe,” explained the band. “The story is written about waking up from the mainframe due to a glitch. Upon waking you realise the simulated world is not what it seems, so you fight to break free from the mainframe to live in the real world.”
The band’s growing international profile has been reinforced by recent live performances outside Ireland, including shows in Warsaw and Kraków, Poland, where they played to their largest audiences so far — a clear signal of their increasing impact beyond their home scene.
