{"title":"Caskets","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"reflections-29","title":"Reflections","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere’s an art to looking back. For Caskets, it could have been easy to plough forwards regardless, riding the wave of success from their breakthrough debut ‘Lost Souls’ that opened tours up across the United States and mainland Europe, and secured appearances at landmark festivals Download and Slam Dunk. But having swapped the bedrooms that fostered album number one for countless hours on the road, reflecting on that journey and the decisions that led them down certain paths quickly became unavoidable. Now tackling the realities of a busy band schedule, spending the best part of two years in shared tour buses and hotel rooms, those reflections have become collective.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf \u003ci\u003eLost Souls\u003c\/i\u003e was primarily driven by vocalist Matt Flood’s personal experiences, sophomore album \u003ci\u003eReflections\u003c\/i\u003e delivers a wider picture of Caskets as a whole, borne out of the usual interpersonal differences that all bands face at least once in their career. For some it marks the end, but for others it fosters a collaborative environment that pushes the music well beyond what has come before. “Difficult stuff happening made our relationship stronger because we’re now not afraid to voice our opinion and we know it will be respected,” Matt notes, fittingly looking back on the moments that began to shape Casket’s hugely dynamic second record. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result reflects each individual member of Caskets, with Matt joined by guitarists Benji Wilson and Craig Robinson, bassist Chris Mcintosh, and drummer James Lazenby. “When your drummer is bringing you full demos with lyrics, that’s a strong foundation for me to work off” Matt smiles, recalling the moment James – alongside the others - arrived with a near-complete demo track for the record. “We all know each other a lot better than we did before; we know each other’s likes, dislikes, how to wind each other up and chill each other out. That ease we all have with each other is and was a massive help when it comes to the song writing process.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat process has seen the tracks expanded, rehashed, and finely tuned, often beginning life in a very experimental format before being effortlessly moulded into Caskets’ distinctive yet expansive sound. The record’s more upbeat moments carry impactful melodies, upping the ante from ‘Lost Souls’ with considered force, while the powerful ambient moments play out with real finesse. “We built a platform to rip it apart and put it back together so it’s the same but better,” Matt enthuses. “We never have a full idea of what’s going to happen, but I like the spontaneity of writing music. It’s what keeps me wanting to do it.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA series of individual lessons, each track on the Dan Weller (Holding Absence, Bury Tomorrow) produced ‘Reflections’ looks back at a specific moment in one of the band member’s lives; a thought, feeling or events, and how that moment shaped the present. It’s a step away from the singular retellings of ‘Lost Soul’, and a concept that emerged as Matt reassessed his position in and commitment to the band. “I could never sit down with a counsellor,” he admits, “it’s a lot easier for me to write it all down on paper. So, I pushed that to the boys and it kind of went from there.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe subsequent reflections take very different shapes. The thunderous ‘Guiding Light’ tells of the struggle in finding personal strength in the face of a broken relationship; the haunting ‘Silhouettes’ lands on the immeasurable power of self-worth and how we should never change ourselves for others, while album closer ‘Better Way Out’ spawns from the process of saving a loved one from suicide. “You can be who you want to be,” the song rings out with a soaring orchestral catharsis that surpasses all of Casket’s contemporaries. The breadth and density of the subject matter is pulled together by the record’s concept, ultimately forming the beating heart of the record.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“’Reflections’ shows how much more we can get out of the band musically if we all put our heads together a bit more,” Matt beams, positive about a record that not only showcases Caskets as a full entity but represents the impressive range of influences that have soundtracked the five piece’s times on the road and in the studio, helping to rapidly expand their sound. “It’s always about the music, that’s the whole point of being in a band,” he concludes. “If we can fit as much into our sound but it still sounds like us, that’s my lifelong goal with Caskets.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sharptone","offers":[{"title":"Orange LP","offer_id":50393445957963,"sku":"2048341","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50393445433675,"sku":"2048338","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50393445695819,"sku":"2048340","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Reflections_e0ff5c61_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726417409"},{"product_id":"lost-souls","title":"Lost Souls","description":"\u003cp\u003eRaised on an unusual blend of Evil Presley, Simon and Garfunkel, Guns N Roses and Cannibal Corpse, it was Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington that first ignited the spark in Caskets vocalist Matt Flood. “It was his power and range,” he notes of the vocal powerhouse. “It was so impressive, and something I’d never heard before from a male vocalist. It was that which drew me in, it’s what got me into music.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe parallels are clear. Caskets’ sound builds around Matt’s dynamic vocals, honed through a range of previous musical endeavours, and perfectly complimenting the band’s mastery of heavy and soft. But it’s their forward-thinking attitude that better aligns both bands, Matt’s vocal hero paving a new path for melody and metal, and Caskets now set to further reinvent expectations of metalcore and post-hardcore. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTeaming up with producer Dan Weller, the man behind works by Holding Absence, Dream State, Enter Shikari and Bury Tomorrow among others, Caskets harness this environment to capture a mix of crisp atmospherics and raw emotion; perfectly mirroring its unusual creation. The album retains the immediacy of their acclaimed ‘Ghost Like You’ EP, but sees the band secure its impact in places other than heavy riffs and crushing guitars. The mellower moments, underpinned by strings and pianos, allow space for emotion. “There’s stuff you don’t expect to happen,” Matt adds. “I’m really excited for people to hear it and be like, I didn’t see that coming. That’s what I want.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn stepping forward from ‘Ghost Like You’, Caskets have allowed themselves even more room for their atmospheric sound. “The music was written in mind for screaming,” Matt reveals, “but we decided we didn’t want to go down that avenue. There’s more soaring energy rises and heavy, chunky low-tuned guitars. There are a lot of nice silky verses and atmospheric choruses.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExplorations of loss, fear, volatility and abuse unfold through far reaching melodies set against often thunderous drums and gritty riffs. “We pulled it back a lot on the first EP,” Matt says of the album’s more emotive moments, “but the music has so many different elements to it now, it’s easier to write those sorts of emotions. I want people to take their own personal experience away from every song, but I want that experience to be different for each song too.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnderneath the wide swathe of powerful instrumentation provided by fellow band members Craig and Benji (guitar), Chris (bass), and James (drums) lies Matt’s truth. The common lyrical thread that pulls Caskets’ music together is this unfiltered openness. “It’s my baby,” he notes with genuine sincerity. “I can relate to every song, but not that it’s how it has to translate to the listener. I just want them to know that it’s a personal issue.” He places emphasis on vulnerability above all else. It’s about showing the world it’s OK to be honest about yourself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe music’s message comes to a head on the album’s rousing midpoint, ‘Hopes and Dreams’, a track that began life four years prior as an acoustic number before being given the full band treatment. Dominated by a mesmerising mix of strings and guitars, it injects a moment of hope in Matt’s darker moments. “Hope’s just a ladder and you can make it to the top,” he sings, “just believe in your ability, let your head believe you heart.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis personable energy bleeds into their music, and the eleven tracks that form\u003ci\u003e Lost Souls\u003c\/i\u003e. It also pinpoints a significant milestone in both Matt’s musical and personal journey. “Having been a 14-year-old kid learning to play guitar, dreaming of doing what’s actually happening now, and having the ups and down’s I have had, I’m living proof that everyone is capable of doing what they love. The rewards massively outweigh the bad times and the shit that you go through. It’s an incredible feeling, and one that I’m very grateful for.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sharptone","offers":[{"title":"Yellow | LP","offer_id":50394001408331,"sku":"1122641","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Clear LP","offer_id":50394002358603,"sku":"2052565","price":47.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50394001310027,"sku":"1122642","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/698d620b-b89c-4204-b8da-4aa110f44775_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726430732"},{"product_id":"the-only-heaven-youll-know","title":"The Only Heaven You'll Know","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Only Heaven You’ll Know\u003c\/em\u003e is the third album from UK metalcore stalwarts, Caskets. Caskets return with 11 new songs filed with crushing riffs and soaring melodic lines. This album is the natural evolution of the band’s sound, and an indication of their growth and sonic maturity throughout the years.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sharptone Records","offers":[{"title":"LP - Orange Sky Blue Splatter","offer_id":53000346927435,"sku":"R1476-3530","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":53000346960203,"sku":"R1476-6485","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Casketsfrontcoverpackshot.jpg?v=1753341416"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/fr\/collections\/caskets.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}