Seoul’s Palecistus make a powerful first impression with their debut EP Something Happens and Remains — a six-track dive into melancholic, emotionally charged melodic hardcore. It’s a release that feels both raw and intentional, shaped by a band that understands how to blend sadness, melody, and heaviness into something uniquely Korean yet universally affecting.

The opening track, #4, immediately sets a reflective, overcast tone. Slow, hollowed-out guitars ring with loneliness, supported by a deep, almost trembling bass that rattles underneath. Soft, vulnerable vocals drift in before being torn apart by harsh screams, and the contrast creates a tension that feels like a breath held too long. When the song finally erupts, the frantic dissonant riffs and bold breakdowns hit with real impact — not just heavy for the sake of being heavy, but emotionally loaded. Layered backing vocals surge behind the chaos, giving the track both urgency and depth.

The transition into 24th, December keeps the emotional momentum alive. Punchy drumming and melodic grooves create a sense of movement, while the Korean spoken-word passages cut straight to the heart. They’re intimate, almost confessional, and the kind of moments that stop you mid-listen because they feel too honest. It’s one of the EP’s strongest emotional peaks.

Everytimewefall… brings the band closer to their hardcore roots — sharper riffs, commanding bass presence, and breakdowns that are controlled but intense. Yet even here, Palecistus avoid falling into monotony. They weave in softer, melodic passages, giving the track a dynamic range that keeps it from ever feeling one-dimensional. The interplay between melody and aggression becomes one of the EP’s defining strengths.

On tracks like Hangman’s Tree and stereotype, the band explore even deeper contrasts. Soft, lightly strummed guitars hover over thick, mournful bass lines, creating pockets of sadness that feel almost overwhelming. Then, the songs snap back with double-kick flurries, tight riffing, and explosive vocal delivery — a cycle of quiet despair and fiery catharsis. These tracks show off Palecistus’ ability to turn emotional weight into musical tension.

The closer, #makeskramzhardcoreagain2025, is a phenomenal finale — a slow-burning intro of plucky, fragile riffs that abruptly detonates into massive drums, cavernous guttural screams, and a chaotic yet controlled breakdown. It’s everything the band does best wrapped into one: melancholy, explosiveness, technicality, and raw emotional honesty.

For a debut EP, Something Happens and Remains is shockingly assured. The mix is occasionally rough — especially the drum textures and some English vocal lines — but that ruggedness adds to the DIY charm and intensity rather than weakening it. What matters most is clear: Palecistus have arrived with a fully-formed identity. Melancholic, aggressive, atmospheric, and emotionally fearless, this EP marks them as one of the most promising new forces in Korean melodic hardcore.

A debut that doesn’t just show potential — it demands attention.