Young And In The Way have been a band for a fairly short time and already have a handful of impressive releases that are all filled with vicious black metal influenced crust-core. YAITW seemed to have found a perfect fit at A389 Recordings, a label known for taking on bands on the darker side of hardcore and metal, where they’ve re-released their first two albums, Amen and I Am Not What I Am, for the first time together on vinyl. For being their debut releases, both of these albums are mature, moving, and crafted flawlessly.

Amen, the band’s earlier release, opens with a dragging, doomy intro before ripping through a blast beat and keeping the speed and intensity throughout most of the record. Immediately, you’ll hear similarities to bands like Cursed, Tragedy, and His Hero Is Gone, but the production’s use of heavy distortion, reverb, and lo-fi ambiance gives it the feel of a black metal record. The album’s closer, “The Becoming,” is slower, melodically bleak, and, at 13 minutes, expands the scope of what YAITW is capable of in their songwriting.

I Am Not What I Am picks up where Amen left off with a sinister sounding melody and a truly terrifying opening track that features what sounds like a chorus of tortured voices. The record continues in the same style of speed and angst, with a sludgy-sounding production, though I Am Not What I Am seems to be a little more punchy and aggressive than Amen. The songs also tend to go further into slower, more layered passages, often topping a driving riff with reverb soaked swells of guitar.

Though both of these records are generally similar, Young And In The Way have an impressive range, from faster crust-inspired songs to more expansive and droning epics. Expect something stellar from their forthcoming A389 Recordings debut.