Freeze The Fall - The Red Garden EP
- Samuel Stevens
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
Emerging from Kelowna’s increasingly vital rock scene, Freeze The Fall returns with their ambitious sophomore EP, The Red Garden, due June 18, 2025, via 604 Records. Where their 2024 debut EP, Thrones, introduced them as a promising force with a knack for dynamic hard rock, this new collection finds the trio expanding both sonically and thematically, weaving dense narratives around blistering instrumentation.
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Jordan Chase (Spiritbox, Braden Barrie), The Red Garden is an immersive concept EP blending everything from metalcore grit, grunge darkness, and progressive textures. The result is a record that not only highlights the band’s growth but also their daring willingness to tackle weighty subjects head-on.
Opening the EP with “Denial,” a sparse, foreboding instrumental that sets a cinematic tone, Freeze The Fall wastes no time plunging listeners into the heart of The Red Garden. The track melts into “Rot,” where medieval imagery becomes a metaphor for modern misinformation. Quinn Mitzel’s vocals balance between melodic vulnerability and raw aggression, while her guitar riffs shift between crushing distortion and delicate lead lines.
“Hypothermia” stands out early, driven by Aria Becker’s propulsive, intricate basswork. Lyrically, it explores the toxicity of online anonymity, a modern plague rendered with chilling lyrical precision. The tension of the subject matter is mirrored perfectly by Jonah Goncalves’ relentless, controlled drumming.
“VHS” leans fully into the trio’s cinematic tendencies, drawing heavily from horror movie tropes—both sonically and visually (as seen in its award-nominated video). The track’s sinister undercurrent takes aim at cycles of power and exploitation, delivered with one of the EP’s most haunting hooks.
Just when the intensity seems overwhelming, “Aurora” provides a melodic breather. It’s a shimmering, emotional centrepiece built around the idea of shared human experiences. The band’s statement that we all “waltz across the sky like the northern lights” feels earned here, with a full-blown string section, reverb-soaked guitars and a soaring chorus lifting the song into a hopeful, transcendent space.
On the EP’s final stretch, Freeze The Fall showcases their most adventurous songwriting yet. “Oubliette” embraces progressive structures, blending French-language verses with sweeping dynamic shifts. It’s perhaps the most daring composition of the seven-track collection—dense, layered, but ultimately atmospheric.
Finally, “Lace” closes out the EP in stark contrast to its earlier heaviness. Stripped down to a piano and minimal instrumentation, yet emotionally devastating, the song confronts the pain of lost innocence, pairing soft, haunting melodies with sparse instrumentation. It’s a fitting conclusion, leaving the listener with a sense of catharsis and reflection.
With The Red Garden, Freeze The Fall has crafted more than just a collection of songs—it’s a cohesive artistic statement. Thematically rich and musically adventurous, it balances the immediacy of modern alt-metal with the depth of conceptual rock records. Fans of bands like The Warning and even early Evanescence will find much to admire here.
Freeze The Fall may still be a young band, but The Red Garden proves they are operating with both ambition and clarity of vision. This EP is sure to help cement them as one of Canada’s most exciting rising heavy rock acts.
Check out more from Freeze The Fall: Website: https://freezethefallband.com/
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