REVIEW: EYES - SPINNER

After two albums of volatile noise and crushing intensity, Copenhagen’s EYES return with SPINNER, their third full-length and first for Prosthetic Records. Known for blending the calculated chaos of hardcore with the bleak textures of noise rock, EYES have made a name for themselves both on record and on the stage. But, the release of SPINNER marks a shift that’s more focused, narrative, and arguably more daring.

Where 2021’s Congratulations was pure abrasion - like being dropped into a pit of broken glass and feedback - SPINNER trades some of that density for precision. The band hasn’t gotten softer, not even slightly, but their attack now comes with a different kind of intention. The album builds a fictional world inspired by ‘80s anime and the works of manga author Asano Inio, with a storyline that mirrors frontman Victor Kaas’s internal reckoning. It’s a concept record, but not in a traditional sense; more like a scrapbook of painful memories redrawn into something surreal, and then screamed into a mic.

The record opens with 'OP1', a brief instrumental that sets a retro-futurist tone. It bleeds straight into 'Better', which slams into gear with furious energy and sets the tempo for much of what follows. Standout track 'The Captain' introduces one of the album’s most compelling characters, someone in a position of authority who nonetheless feels like they’re drowning under pressure. The song’s imagery of a heavy backpack growing until unbearable captures that suffocating contradiction - being at the top, yet feeling like a fraud. It’s theatrical without being corny, the kind of storytelling that feels earned because blistering performances back it.

And blistering is the word here - EYES are still a sonic wrecking ball. Tracks like 'Save Face Regularly' and 'Deflating Rooms' tear through genre boundaries, pulling from hardcore, punk, and post-metal moments. But what’s new is how tight the structures are. Each track feels like a chapter: short, punchy, but densely packed with meaning. 'Moving Day for the Overton Window' and 'Clown' are chaotic yet strangely catchy, with riff changes that feel like sudden shifts in mood rather than just technical flexes.

There’s also a deeper emotional weight this time around. 'Beelzebub', 'The Hypocrite' and 'Money Mouth' channel frustration and disillusionment in more abstract forms, like dreams spiralling into nightmare logic. SPINNER’s final track is the longest and most expansive, unfolding more slowly and letting its narrative breathe. Here, the band dials back the intensity just enough to make the emotional resonance land that much more forcefully. It’s a fitting closer that feels like an ending, and a reset.

Credit has to be given to producer Jacob Bredahl for capturing EYES’s raw, almost suffocating energy in a studio setting. The mix is tight and brutal, yet there’s space when it matters most. Guest vocalists Selma Bahner (Feral Nature, Tower) and Jesse Matthewson (KEN Mode) add new textures without ever stealing the spotlight. Brad Boatright’s mastering, as always, ensures the sonic violence doesn’t lose its clarity.

Despite the intensity, SPINNER is not just aggression for aggression’s sake. There’s vulnerability here, hidden under layers of distortion and scream. Through its characters and storytelling, the album becomes a vessel for self-examination. The fictional world that EYES have built gives Victor Kaas room to unpack real emotional scars. The characters may be made up, but the feelings aren’t, which gives SPINNER its staying power.

With SPINNER, EYES manage to evolve without losing their teeth. It’s the sound of a band doubling down on who they are while taking bold steps forward. Cleaner production and sharper song writing highlight their strengths, and the emotional weight of the concept adds another layer of depth. It’s a record that hits hard both musically and thematically - a punch to the gut, but one that stays with you after the ringing in your ears fades. EYES don’t just level up on SPINNER - they redefine their limits.

Score: 8/10

SPINNER was released on April 25th 2025.

Words: Kelly Gowe

Photos: EYES