Diplomat

From the darkly sexual imagery of the album’s cover to the almost sinister vocals of singer Nat Stone, Diplomat’s The Divine and the Impure seems more concerned with the latter. A sort of cross between Filter and everything emo, the band blend crushing anger and energy with quiet introspection; the aural onslaught of the first two tracks is brought to a crashing halt by "Yr New Morality,” a slow-burning piece filled with baritone vocals and unique drum production. While the band occasionally slips into dull moments of Kurt Cobain-inspired hushed whining, for the most part, this EP displays a band with a knack for penning dark, compelling songs and playing them with all the conviction in the world.