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Basque is a 4-piece screamo band from Kitchener, Ontario. They released their debut LP, Pain Without Hope of Healing, on March 22nd, 2024, with support from labels all over the globe. Mixing ethereal dream-like riffs with heavy power violence-inspired bursts under a droning wall of noise, Basque has brought forth a record that peaks and falls constantly. A unique take on the screamo genre that forgoes a linear progression and embraces a chaotic rise and fall of emotions throughout the short 7-song, 20-minute album. The bleak lyricism on the record touches on modern-day capitalism, addiction issues, confessional repentance, and inescapable melancholy. Pairing the simple yet dismal words with the mathematical intensity of the instruments, it is undeniable that Pain Without Hope Of Healing is a highly personal and emotionally charged project.

Going into the first song, I realized they weren’t kidding about the droning wall of noise, in the best way possible. These guys are LOUD and PROUD, and it’s infectious and works great for their vibe. Kicking off the album is the track “Nausea.” The chaotic instrumentation is front and center here, and the lyrics almost serve to complement the music rather than the other way around. This works in their favor for many of the tracks on this album! The lyrics are accessible on their Bandcamp page and, despite being short, they have such deep and relatable meaning. “Discontinue, disconnect; Now I’m trying to forget…” I can only imagine the number of people who can relate to those heavy lyrics.

Track two, “Perks,” is a song that brings in the longing of wanting to just tear off the mask they’re wearing to make others happy. The people pleasers of the world would rally seeing the lyrics to this song. “It’s futile to pretend I’m good at something again…” Incredibly relatable, even behind the vagueness of the surrounding lyrics. Relating to this is going to be a walk in the park for many of us and it’s truly a talent to say so much in so few words. Seeing the trend of this album made me realize just how bad these epidemics are becoming in the modern day.

“Stillness” is my favorite song lyrically, hands down. The way it’s written and executed is just so well-placed and relatable, it definitely elevates the album as you continue to listen. “…Before there was heaven, I hated my chin; Before there was stillness, I was the wind..” The poetry of the lyrics had me captivated as I listened closely to hear them over the chaos of the music. Which, in retrospect, kind of feels similar to all the noise and pointless news we hear every day, with the real problems flying ever so slightly under the radar, much like the lyrics vs the music of the album. It’s a beautiful parallel, if that was their intention!

Bringing us to track 4, another relatable banger. With lyrics coming at you from beyond like with lines like, “I heard but I didn’t listen; I held on too long but I didn’t like it…” from someone who knows the fear of everyone wanting to like you, or relate to them or have them relate to you in some way, “Worry About Everything” is a song that everyone who struggles with making sure everyone likes them needs. I struggle with it myself, and it’s important to just be yourself, and you will surround yourself with people who will be like-minded and compassionate to you and your world. It’s important for not only our mental health, but our physical, too. “…The youthful glow is gone; And in its place another scar; To reinforce the fear that one day it will strike my heart…” Honestly, metaphorical or not, it has a ton of truth. The amount of energy it takes to entertain people who aren’t like-minded and compassionate towards you is unimaginable. BE YOU.

“All Good Things Will Crumble” has a slightly more lax and mellow intro, until the screech of the guitar coming in to (possibly) rub some ears the wrong way, but if you hang in there, the instrumentation gets intricate and chaotic as you grow to recognize! The lyrics would tear any bleeding heart’s heart in two, but the timing of the music makes this song almost impossible for me to skip! I love trying to tap along to each instrument’s timing since they’re each a bit different!

This song has such a beautiful title, at least in my opinion, but call me a sucker for poetic wording. “Concrete Thoughts, Soften” has a soft title, but don’t let it fool you into thinking it’s got a softer sound. The lyrics are a whirlwind of vague, yet relatable, truths. “To say I’m tired is an understatement; So, I’ll lay my head on the pavement; Thinking of the thoughts of today; And the thoughts of tomorrow…” Just the despair of being locked in that depression, sometimes even reaching the point of the next few lines “…No time for sleep; No time to borrow…” It’s a dark place, but I can imagine some could relate. (If you need help with these thoughts and feelings, please reach out to the Suicide Hotline or your local mental health providers for help). As I go through this album, I just become more and more sucked in by the lyrics and the instrumentals they’ve paired with them.

The final track has the heaviest lyrics, yet the softest instrumental intro. I genuinely was FLOORED when I heard the picking and how beautifully slow it was. It gave this album such a beautiful ending. It’s probably my favorite track overall and if they had an entire album where all the songs sounded like this, sign me up for that review, I have DIBS. “Funeral For A Mouse” is incredibly dark, yet beautiful. In all honesty, this song’s lyrics are to be read at your own discretion. I find them beautiful, yet the subject may be triggering to some readers. I absolutely LOVE any and all music that brings awareness to and relates music to suicide and its darkness, having struggled with it myself at one point in time. That being said, I want to mention again; If you or anyone you know is having and struggling with these feelings or thoughts, please reach out to the Suicide Prevention Hotline or reach out to your local mental health professional.

Fans of Jerome’s Dream, Portraits of Past, City of Caterpillar, Blind Girls and Lord Snow will enjoy these guys’ music!

Paint Without Hope of Healing is out NOW on all streaming platforms as of March 22nd, 2024!