Caption: EP Artwork
Craig Owens has had his fair share of projects over the years. From Chiodos to D.R.U.G.S., The Sounds Of Animals Fighting and Isles & Glaciers, it’s safe to say he’s been a pretty busy man. badXchannels is his latest, with debut EP WHYDFML being released back in November.
Owens has dabbled in all kinds of rock sub-genres. This record sees him take onboard styles such as R&B, soul and electronic to add to the tracks’ depth. ‘I. One Car Funeral‘ is slow, sultry, and no doubt hits the spot for both older fans, and the newer ones who are particularly drawn to this sound. ‘II. You Know I Will‘ follows a similar pattern, and sees the feature of American rapper and producer Jon Connor. A real heavyweight in his genre, Connor is a brilliant addition to have for Owens on his first record under the badXchannels name.
Another feature on the record is Tyler Carter from Issues, Carter has a similar style to what Owens is trying to do here. Lending his vocals to ‘IIII. Complicated‘, Carter helps this song reach its full potential. It’s a forlorn tale of a toxic relationship, too deep to not stem from real life inspiration, but that’s what makes it all the more hard-hitting.
The EP draws to a close with ‘IIIII. Same Thing Everyday‘. It features Texan alt/electronic duo MISSIO and it’s clear that Owens has settled in to pursuing his new avenue with complete ease. There’s nothing contrived about the way he’s attempting (and succeeding) to pull off this sound. It’s unknown whether badXchannels is for the long-run or simply just a short-lived project to fill in time before something larger, but one thing we can say for sure is that this EP is a delight throughout.
