When Your Eyes Are Shut

Indianapolis quintet Mauled’s ‘When Your Eyes Are Shut’ is a deliberate revival of early-era deathcore, directly challenging contemporary trends in the genre. The EP’s sound is built upon a foundation of visceral, agonized vocals, frenetic drumming, and unrelenting breakdowns, consciously channeling the sonic signatures of foundational bands like Whitechapel and Suicide Silence. Thematically, the release translates feelings of heartbreak, betrayal, and toxic relationships into outwardly aggressive and violent lyrical content, seeking to create a cathartic, though unsettling, listening experience rooted in raw, negative emotion.