As one of Candlelight Records' brightest flames, October File have been consistently releasing powerful records for the last decade. Despite remaining underground, they have managed to carve themselves a distinct niche in the British metal scene through their aggressive and heavy iteration of post-punk. Armed with an expansive title to match its lofty ambitions, their latest release is pitched as an examination of what it means to be human. Coming from a band with a history of confrontational lyrical content, it's not surprising that their impressions of capitalism and the human condition aren't all that sunny.
October File's signature style is designed to create an almost droning wall of sound. By repeating bass heavy riffs and ironically martial drums, they have created songs that exert an almost physical force. The unsubtle hammer blows of 'I Fuck The Day' begin The Application... in this tradition, while later track 'The Water' exemplifies it. An eight minute song primarily built from variations of the same riff, it expresses the monotony of everyday experience with flair. Whether you find this musically satisfying is another matter. For all the oppressive atmosphere that this approach makes possible, it has always caused the band's previous albums to be challenging listens.
So far, so October File. However, further inspection reveals The Application... to very much be an evolution of their sound. Matt Lerwill's use of lead guitar is far more prominent and varied than it used to be, featuring experimentation that even leads to a flirtation with black metal in the aptly titled 'Reinvention'. Another new influence is groove metal, which is used widely to give the album the kind of hooks that the band's previous works didn't have space for. The first verse of 'Heroes Are Welcome' leads into an almost shamelessly Lamb of God inspired riff, but Ben Hollyer's distinctive vocal style is put to good work in moulding this section beyond simple imitation. This makes The Application... comparable to Opeth's Heritage; the band have created something that is recognisably their work but very different from what has come before.
'Elation' has all the patterns of an older October File song, down to Ben's apathetic roar of its title, but its structure is augmented by the same groove metal swagger that makes 'Heroes Are Welcome' such a compulsive listen. Dedicated fans of the band's previous work might be disappointed by these changes, but as far as I'm concerned this is an improvement in almost every way.
Whether you feel this album is an insightful look at the nature of humanity or not is probably a measure of your own cynicism rather than a comment on October File's worldview. However, it is impossible to contest the success that the band have had in reworking their signature sound. There is a necessary element of compromise within this evolution as The Application... neither maintains the relentless gloom of Our Souls To You, nor fully commits to a catchier approach along the lines of Machine Head. Nevertheless, within this compromise there is a great album, which shows all the signs of a band looking to expand their congregation beyond the already converted. When October File look back at this album after another decade, it could well be their defining moment.
