Joust – Born Into This World EP Review

San Antonio’s own Joust are back swinging with their latest EP, Born Into This World—a five-track showcase of gritty metallic hardcore with moments of thrashy aggression, punishing grooves, and an unmistakable Texas toughness. Building on their earlier material, this release shows the band stepping up their sound with better production, tighter musicianship, and more vocal presence. While not every moment lands perfectly, there's clear growth and some genuinely heavy highlights.

The EP opens with “Rebirth,” a slow-burn intro that sets the stage with ringing, drawn-out guitar notes that build tension. There’s a deliberate atmosphere here—minimalist but moody. When the full band drops in, it’s a heavy-hitting breakdown that dominates the mix, with drums pushed high and front-loaded in intensity. The riffs lean toward a thrash-influenced tone, while the bass adds a deep, grounding low end.

However, the drumming feels slightly off-kilter in places—whether that’s a production choice or an intentional looseness is unclear. The closing breakdown is solid but doesn’t quite escalate the way the track teases it could. Still, it sets a strong foundation for what’s to come.

“Hollow Shell” opens with a classic slow-build: a measured drum roll and heavy, sludgy riffing reintroduce the listener to Joust’s denser side. Right away, it’s clear the vocals have improved—grittier, more confident, and loaded with emotional weight. The delivery feels lived-in, like the frontman has weathered some storms and come back tougher.

There’s a hint of Judiciary in both the vocal tone and the riff structure—tight, heavy, and unrelenting. The drums absolutely pop here, punching through the mix with energy and aggression. The bass sits nicely beneath the chaos, adding body without muddying the sound. There’s even a short guitar solo, though it’s a bit buried in the mix and could have used more volume.

Then comes a crushing, dirty breakdown—pure pit-fuel, with a satisfying heft that demands movement.

“Run Out” slides in smoothly from the previous track, showing off a tight, clean transition. Musically, it leans harder into thrashy territory, with distorted guitars and a faster pace that adds momentum to the EP’s midsection. The bass tone continues to shine—thick, heavy, and locked in with the drums.

The vocals here feel particularly vicious, with a snarling delivery that channels the spirit of Power Trip in its rawness and command. The breakdown is decent—standard fare for the genre—but it's the groovy two-step outro that really elevates the song, adding energy and bounce at just the right moment.

“Unscathed” keeps the energy high with fast, bouncing riffs layered over crisp, clean production. Everything sounds tight—Joust clearly found a producer who knows how to bring out their strengths. The guitars are agile, adding just enough groove to keep things dynamic, while the bass continues to shine underneath the aggression.

There’s a particularly strong breakdown here, propelled by sharp, aggressive drumming that doesn’t let up. This track feels the most complete so far—well-paced, well-mixed, and full of intent.

The final track, “Free Me,” offers a slight change of pace. It opens with a grimy, dirty-sounding bass tone and slow, chuggy riffs that drag the listener into a more oppressive space. The track showcases Joust’s ability to shift between tempos and moods—proving they can hit just as hard when they slow things down.

The back half of the song brings out their metallic hardcore leanings, veering into heavier, darker territory. The breakdown is groovy and nasty—everything you want at the end of a hardcore EP. A guest vocal feature pops up, though it doesn’t quite match the intensity of the rest of the track and feels slightly out of place.

Born Into This World is a strong step forward for Joust. The band sounds more confident, the production is sharper, and the songwriting shows real progression. While not every experiment fully lands—particularly in the guest vocals and some of the mix choices—there’s no denying that Joust are carving out a space for themselves in the Texas hardcore scene.

They’ve got the riffs, the groove, and the attitude—and with a little more refinement, they could easily break out beyond regional circuits.

RATING: 8/10