Album review by Lucas Bell
After an illustrious 21 year career, Melbourne 5 piece Behind Crimson Eyes announced last year they would be calling it a career in 2025. The final year of Behind Crimson Eyes would be a celebration of the work of the band, with a final tour, and a final release of songs. And on April 4th, one part of that promise was fulfilled, with the release of the band’s final EP, An Exodus of Eden.
My love for this band has run deep, having seen them live more than probably any other band. They were a foundational building block of Australian metalcore in the early days, alongside bands like Parkway Drive, I Killed the Prom Queen, Carpathian, and The Amity Affliction. If there were a Mount Rushmore equivalent for Aussie metalcore, Behind Crimson Eyes would be a serious contender for a spot on that mountain. And now that the final EP is here, let’s break it down.
SONG BREAKDOWNS
Wake Up – If you hadn’t heard the quality of tunes Behind Crimson Eyes have been churning out like ‘DEAD.DROP.DEAD’ and ‘Burn It Down’, the opening track is an incredible tone setter. Powerful vocals from both Josh and Aaron, and my god, Dan Kerby on drums. One of the best drummers in Australia. Sometimes I feel like his kicks are going to punch through my chest and rip my heart out like that scene from Temple of Doom. Amazing start to the EP.
Burn It Down – This song was dropped with the announcement of the final EP in January, and this is without a doubt, the best song in the band’s entire discography. It’s crazy to think that the band is calling it quits in just a few weeks, and dropping top tier tracks like this. Sallee Chatfield from dark-pop act Lunacy provides the chorus on this track, and it’s incredible. While watching the EP live stream, Josh dropped some knowledge about Chatfield getting close to the win on X-Factor on the second season, which I totally hadn’t connected dots to until last night. Such an awesome feature.
A Place in Hell – Another mention during the live stream, was from Dan, who mentioned this as the best chorus the band has ever done, and holy shit it’s a mind blower. There is a mini-breakdown at the end too, which I can see myself coming out of pit retirement for just to crush. Absolutely sick track.
You Can’t Save Me – Holy fucking throwback Batman. This track feels like it’s been ripped fresh out of 2005, and given a 2025 coat of paint. Old school fans will love this song, and I even shed a tear hearing these types of vocals one last time. Truly gave me crazy nostalgia.
DEAD.DROP.DEAD – It’s pretty nuts to think this song has been out as long as it has. Having dropped back in July last year, this track was played on the support slot for Story of the Year, and I remember then, thinking about why the boys were ending things, while still pumping out bangers like this. The lyrical content of the track delves heavily into the struggles of mental health, and the video is gross. But the song is definitely a career highlight, and has probably the catchiest chorus on the EP.
I’m Gunning for TG – Another song that feels a bit outside the wheelhouse with the opening synths, the initial vocals on the verse lull us back into a more traditional sound for the band, before some crazy almost Ozzy Osbourne inspired vocals on the chorus, which totally took me by surprise. This is another short track, clocking under 3 minutes. But it maximises its time by being a quick, fun, belter of a tune.
The End Of… – Before the track started, I paused the EP to take in the idea that this song would be the last time I would hear a Behind Crimson Eyes song for the first time. The EP has been an incredible journey, and I wasn’t ready for it to be over. The track is 5 minutes and 16 seconds long, which I’m pretty sure is the longest song in the band’s catalog, and in the final minute, they managed to surprise me one more time, with progressive rhythms the band have never really played around with before. But holy shit. What a way to close the final chapter.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’m sad to see the band go. But I’m happy they’re going out on their own terms, heads held high, with seven amazing final songs to put a feather in the cap of an insane career. This EP is a 25 minute love letter to the history of the band. It’s for those who have been riding since the start. But it’s also for those that might have recently found the band. But most importantly, it’s an EP for the boys themselves to be proud of. It’s a final, declarative statement, which will serve as a forever reminder of what it looks like to go out your own way, and on top.
Score – 9.6/10
Album Highlights – Burn It Down, You Can’t Save Me, DEAD.DROP.DEAD
