EP REVIEW: ARCHERS - TEMPORARY HIGH (13/06/25)

Released on 13 June 2025 via SBG Records, Temporary High by modern metalcore band Archers - Nathanael Pulley (vocals), Ben Koehler (guitars), Oscar Porter (bass), Grayson Mesarosh (drums) - doesn’t waste time. It hits hard, leans into atmosphere, and pulls zero punches. Clocking in at just under 17 minutes, the five-track collection shows a significant evolution from their earlier post-hardcore roots into a more refined, emotionally charged metalcore sound.

The first track ‘Better Off’ serves as a blistering, relentless opener packed with aggressive vocals, guitar riffs and punchy drumming. It is the heaviest track of this new EP and sets an urgent tone, showcasing the band’s knack for delivering cathartic metalcore energy. The delivery of guttural growls and clean vocals from vocalist Nathanael Pulley is impressive and works effortlessly.

The second track ‘Wide Awake’ balances more gritty breakdowns with melodic choruses, soaring cleans with searing screams in classic metalcore fashion.

‘Safe Now’ invites the listener to slow down, offering a beautiful, ethereal moment that highlights the band’s most introspective and vulnerable side. Pulley’s range throughout this EP - from anguished screams to vulnerable cleans - is powerful and this track is a testament to Archers’ ability to put the guitar riffs aside and make emotionally raw music, also pushing beyond metalcore’s boundaries. Polished yet intense guitar lines, tight rhythm section, and dynamic tempo shifts join Pulley on the second half of the song. Lyrically powerful lines like ‘‘Safe and sound, six feet down, no one can hurt you when you’re underground’’ also hit hard.

Clean, punchy mixes allow each element- vocals, guitars, bass, drums - to shine without overshadowing the emotional core. Produced by Matt Good (Hollywood Undead, Sleeping With Sirens, From First to Last), Temporary High fuses pop energy, emo heart, and metalcore grit into a sound that feels both distinctive and emotionally charged.

‘Never Enough’ which serves as the first single off this new EP is a catchy, high-energy track that feels very Archers to its core, the band balancing vocal textures to suit both breakdowns and emotional peaks efficiently, providing both headbanging heaviness and introspective nuance - our favourite track from the EP.

Archers tackle themes such as mental health, and relationships across the EP, weaving in personal honesty with powerful melodic hooks. Musically, they integrate elements from bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Asking Alexandria, and Dayseeker, without losing their unique voice.

The final track ‘Crooked Smile’ opens with more beautiful, clean vocals before diving headfirst into crushing riffs. It feels almost ambient at the start, pulling R&B and pop influences. Lyrically, the song leans further into vulnerability and emotional clarity, solidifying what’s fast becoming a defining trait of Archers’ songwriting.

Temporary High is a confident, cohesive snapshot of Archers’ growth. It’s heavy without being monotonous, emotionally resonant without resorting to cliché. For fans of modern metalcore with an emotional edge, this EP delivers - from mosh-ready breakdowns to tear-jerking balladry. With their new EP, the Wisconsin metalcore outfit lean hard into emotional volatility, genre fluidity, and an ever-tightening grasp on what makes heavy music hit - not just in your chest, but in your gut.

Temporary High out now via SBG Records, available on all streaming platforms.