Written By Kevin McSweeney
The lovely people at Sickset Media recently alerted me to an imminent new release from an exciting young ensemble hailing from the Royal County of Berkshire.
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They are confident that these dynamic upstarts – namely vocalist/bassist Hue Roch and guitarists Gareth Stapleton and John Harmsworth (ably assisted by a supporting cast of stick wielders) – will go on to achieve great things.
It would have been entirely remiss of me, therefore, not to see for myself what the fuss was all about. So, here’s a little look track-by-track at the intriguingly-titled Eyes Like Glass // Thoughts Like Fuel from Wokingham’s melodic metalcore merchants One Last Day.
Still Breathing
The opening track heralded the band’s arrival on the UK metal scene in 2025, and garnered widespread praise, resulting in them being featured on Kerrang! Radio‘s Fresh Blood show with Alex Baker. GBHBL reviewed the song favourably, describing it as: “…oozing passion, showcasing explosivity, and delivering powerful melodies that are undeniably infectious.” All of which is perfectly fair.
It bears the spiky, staccato riffing and scattergun kick drum patterns of nü metal, with a distinct emphasis on the kind of highly polished vocal melody you’d expect from someone like Spiritbox or Bullet For My Valentine, Its dissonant lead guitar puts you on edge, undoing the soothing work of those melodic vocals, whereas the solo demonstrates impressive classic rock nous. All in all, not a bad way to start proceedings!
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Ash & Bone
Slick vocal harmonies embellish a rudimentary riff and pummelling kick drum pattern in the opening stages. We have fragile, plaintive melodies but with a well-concealed yet still discernible hint of muscularity beneath them.
I must admit to not being thrilled with just how chart-friendly much of this EP is, but credit where credit is due. The closing guitar solo is exquisite, serving a similar purpose to that of the solo deployed by their fellow merchants of melodic metalcore, Novelists FR, on their single Say My Name earlier this year. It works well, but I’m hoping for less of the varnished and more of the visceral as the EP progresses.
Echoes
Echoes is the EP’s focus single, and comes with an accompanying video directed by Shaun Hodson of Loki Films. According to the band, it’s: “…a song about how we perceive what’s going on around us and how we choose to act in response.” They continue, “The way you act echoes through others’ experiences of you, you create ripples with actions which ultimately define you from the observer’s point of view – it’s worth being mindful of.”
With its opening riff being so reminiscent of Muse, and its programmed beats in the verse underpinning heartfelt vocals echoing Chester Bennington at his most tender, plus its big, hook-laden chorus, it’s an obvious choice for a single with its potential for mainstream appeal. Still not tremendously heavy, however. Sorry to labour the point, but we are Metal Lair. The clue’s in the name.
Don’t Go Under
The fourth track commences with some gentle clean chords and understated programmed drums – all very radio friendly. The vocals are soft and heartfelt, even through the big chorus. I could well imagine someone like Olivia Rodrigo covering this song. That’s not a jibe. It’s merely an observation. OK, so it’s not our standard fare here at ML, but it’s well written and skilfully performed, and could well be a chart hit. Not for the first time, I find myself wishing they’d gone harder. They’ve got it in them.
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Watch The World Decay
The closing track, which boasts a guest appearance from William Alex Young from their fellow British alt. metal band Defences, bears a highly important message. To quote the band themselves:
The world is a scary place. There are populist politicians taking the world by storm, riling up the masses with divisive and emotive issues. There is nothing easier than to manipulate you by implying your problems are due to a group of people you struggle to relate to. After the haze, division and anger we might look back and realise what we have let happen.
This isn’t a new story, it’s been told before. This is our creative re-telling of a text that never seems to stop being relevant.
These are commendable sentiments
The comparisons to Three Days Grace are especially understandable in the content of this song, with the primary riff bearing a strong resemblance to songs such as Home or So-Called Life. And we get some heaviness! The addition of the harsh vocals in the middle are most welcome, adding some much-needed venom to a track in which the anger is most assuredly righteous. It proves they can be heavy when they want to be, and I wish they’d felt the inclination more often.
In summary, if I’m honest, it’s a little too slick and polished for my taste, but what does my taste matter? It doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s an accomplished and emphatic statement of intent from a promising new band that will serve, in their own words: “…as bedrock for the journey that is to come for the band.” They elaborate: “It covers the breadth of keeping the fire alive, self-reflection on your internalisations, sonderous realisations that people’s experiences of you echo on regardless of your own journey, appreciation and recognition of the people who keep you safe and a good bit of dystopian realisation to cap it off.” And who am I to argue with any of that? Still, a little more steel and a little less polish would be very much appreciated when the time comes for their debut album.
Metal Lair awards Eyes Like Glass // Thoughts Like Fuel by One Last Day three and a half Devil Horns.
BAND LINEUP
Huw Roch: vocals/bass
Gareth Stapleton: guitar
John Harmsworth: guitar
OTHER CREDITS
Connor Burt: drums (“Still Breathing”)
Kyle Park: drums (session musician)
TRACK LISTING
1. Still Breathing
2. Ash & Bone
3. Echoes
4. Don’t Go Under
5. Watch The World Decay (feat. William Alex Young)
ONE LAST DAY ONLINE
