ALBUM REVIEWS

I first met the Reckoner lads when they absolutely crushed their set at Collisionfest in Bedford back in April 2023. Hard to believe it’s been nearly a year of blasting their music whenever I can—whether that’s at an appropriate volume or full-blown “annoy the neighbors” levels. Aside from their killer sound, they’re one of the most down-to-earth bands I’ve had the pleasure of working and chatting with. Wicked guys, proper good energy, and it’s always exciting to see what they come up with next.

 

Their latest track, ifailme, which dropped this morning, hits a little different. It leans into a more vulnerable side of Reckoner—less about sheer heaviness and more about raw emotion, while still keeping that signature punch they’re known for. The band manages to balance weight and melody in a way that feels deeply personal, like they’re peeling back another layer and letting us in on something real.

 

Musically, ifailme is a blend of dynamic shifts and atmospheric tension, giving it an almost cinematic feel. It doesn’t throw breakdowns at you for the sake of it—everything feels intentional, like a slow build to something bigger. The vocals cut through with an urgency that really sells the emotion, while the instrumentation backs it up with just the right amount of intensity. Even the album art feels different this time around. Reckoner usually leans towards a certain grungy aesthetic, but this release steps outside their usual visuals, making it clear that this track isn’t just “another Reckoner song” but a statement.

 

Growth & Evolution

Reflecting on how the past year has shaped them, Reckoner shared, “We’ve learned loads in such a short space of time. It’s funny how quickly a year disappears! We’re now on the other side of the EP release, so have certainly learned a lot about what worked and what didn’t—stuff we can certainly action in this next release. It’s been cool playing different shows with so many different bands. It’s also been great to meet lots of different people and find out what this scene is about. We’re still a fairly new band, so constantly absorbing everything we can in order to keep pushing!”

 

With ifailme, Reckoner steps into a more introspective space. When asked what pushed them in this direction, they revealed, “So when we first started writing for the band, we wrote around forty songs to figure out what would stick… ifailme was the first song we decided to keep, and we’ve been sat on it since 2020! We’ve been playing it live since we started playing shows, but felt as though we needed to hold it back as it didn’t necessarily fit with the five songs we chose for the EP.”

 

The Visual Shift

“The concept came from my partner, Carolyn (she develops creative concepts for brands, which is a big help). The obvious thing about the artwork is that Annie/Red Artistry (our model who was great to work with) is upside down to reflect the lyrics. Aside from that, the song is quite a vulnerable one, and we hope that the artwork reflects that. It’s also a little homage to the ‘Around The Fur’ artwork, as that’s an album we all love and take great inspiration from!”

 

What’s Next for Reckoner?

So, is ifailme a one-off, or part of something bigger?

 

“ifailme is a standalone single. We have other music in the pipeline that is similar, but we’re trying to switch things up with each release—doing the same thing each time doesn’t really appeal to us, as experimenting is fun and stops the band from becoming stagnant. The new music we’re finishing up writing at the moment is another change for us, so hopefully, it’s well received!”

 

Final Thoughts

Overall, ifailme is Reckoner showing us a new side of themselves while staying true to the core of what makes them great. It’s introspective without losing its edge, powerful without being overproduced, and 100% worth blasting at full volume (just maybe check if your housemates are in first).

 

★★★★★ 5/5