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Bitter Nerves & Burned Edges: Antillion – Aftertaste & Crutches (EP and Track Review) Released: 7/11/19 (EP) & 7/2/25 (single)



Antillion is a 5‑piece progressive post‑hardcore band from Chicago. Formed in 2022 by Robert Boehm (drums), Michael Gallucci (vocals), Bobby Maszka (guitar), Noemi Morquecho (guitar), and Alan Tiemann (bass) brings a mix of precision, intensity, and melodic instinct that shapes the band’s evolving identity. Their high‑energy, dynamic style pulls from the technical, layered intricacy of Swancore while channeling the emotional vulnerability of emo influences. Antillion has always carried a raw, restless energy in their sound, but their EP Aftertaste and their single Crutches capture that identity with a sharper, more visceral edge. The band leans into a hybrid of melodic metalcore, groove‑driven heaviness, and emotionally charged aggression that feels both personal and punishing. Aftertaste isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a snapshot of a band pushing into darker territory with confidence and intent, which is also reflected in Crutches as well.

The EP hits with immediacy. The guitars grind with a gritty, percussive bite, weaving between tight chugs and melodic lines that never soften the impact. The drums keep everything tense and forward‑moving, landing with a punch that feels physical. Vocally, Antillion walks a line between raw intensity and melodic clarity, shifting gears in a way that feels natural rather than formulaic. There’s a lived‑in frustration to the delivery, but not theatrical, but honest. What makes Aftertaste stand out is its cohesion. Each track feels like a different angle on the same emotional weight: bitterness, reflection, resentment, release. The production keeps things sharp without sanding off the edges, letting the grit and texture of the performances shine through. It’s the kind of EP that feels like a band finding their footing and deciding to dig in rather than smooth out.

Their single Crutches builds on that foundation with a more focused, personal punch, easily one of the band’s most emotionally charged tracks to date. The song opens with a tense, grinding riff that mirrors the lyrical push-and-pull: the exhaustion of being trapped in someone else’s indecision, the frustration of being kept close but never let in, and the breaking point where self-preservation finally overcomes longing. The verses simmer with resentment and emotional fatigue, while the chorus opens up into a melodic release that doesn’t lighten the mood; it sharpens it. The lyrics delve into themes of manipulation, dependency, and the suffocating cycle of being manipulated. There’s imagery of being fed scraps of affection, of praying for a clean break, of feeling torn apart by someone who can’t commit but won’t let go. The emotional violence is subtle but constant, and the band matches it musically with tight, percussive riffing and a rhythm section that keeps everything tense and forward‑moving. When the breakdown hits, it feels like the moment the narrator finally snaps the strings, cathartic, heavy, and earned.

Crutches isn't just heavy for the sake of heaviness, it’s heavy because it’s honest. It’s the sound of someone clawing their way out of a cycle they should’ve broken long ago, and Antillion captures that emotional collapse with precision and grit. Together, Aftertaste and Crutches show a band that’s not just refining their sound, but defining it. Antillion blends melody, aggression, and emotional tension with a confidence that feels earned. They don’t chase trends or polish away the roughness; they let the rawness drive the music forward. It’s a sound built on honesty, frustration, and catharsis, and they deliver it with conviction.


Check out Aftertaste in its entirety, then go listen to Crutches immediately after: 

                                                               

    Give them a follow on Instagram: Antillion

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