While we cover them all the time, more often than not we don’t rank EP’s at the end of the year because they’re typically made up of such a small body of work and our full-length list is usually already overflowing so squeezing in a few songs in addition is a headache and a half. That said, an EP has got to be REALLY special to make it in there. Like Initiate’s upcoming With Love // With Rage EP which we’re already making room for on that already-in-the-works list.
The songs that Crystal Pak (Vocals), Michael Morales (Bass), Draven Carter (Guitar), Manning Gray (Guitar) and John Hodge (Drums) have constructed collectively as Initiate across With Love // With Rage are so dense, so memorable, so impactful and so gotDamn fun to listen to over and over again. Hell, we’ve listened to With Love // With Rage countless times already and can tell you for a fact that we keep finding new things to smile about. Coming off a triumphant full-length like 2023’s Cerebral Circus (And 2025’s “Too Much” single), Initiate blast back with a fiery five tracks of genre-bending and blending Hardcore that’s Heavy, heady and heartfelt.
“Burn After Reading” is loud right off the bat with Hodge’s sticks starting things off until a cacophonous explosion of sound from the combined might of Morales, Gray, Carter and Pak all hit at once followed by “Delusions” which is just more of everything and highlights Initiate’s penchant for infusing some Groove-oriented shredding into their brand of HC. Then there’s “Shadowboxing” that’s kind of an anthem with wailing/screaming guitars at the forefront as Pak’s muted cries crawl out from the background into a vicious, barked out chorus.
Lead single “Numb The Pain” was IT for us. The lead single for the EP was our first exposure to the band and we feel if you’re looking for that next Turnstile fix (Which we were not), then this is the one for you. Unapologetically Heavy with Pak alternating between serrated screams (And even some serene serenades during the breakdown), “Numb The Pain” is the best Initiate intro for the uninitiated as Carter, Gray, Morales and Hodge break up all the noise with layered melodies throughout. Closer “Future Saving Grace” is a BOP (Are we using that right???) and very much the blueprint for how to close a release giving listeners an energetic ramp up that adds layers upon layers in a short amount of time before the whole thing expands, opens up and delivers tenfold.
With Love // With Rage arrives through Blue Grape Music on August 7th and you can find the version that best suits you when you head here or to the stream below. For more from Initiate, including where to catch them live like supporting Senses Fail along with Koyo on a tour that hits Boston’s Big Night Live on December 15th (Advance tickets available here), head toward the information superhighway and the band’s socials located when you click here, here or here.