This Is More Than Enough by Ben Rankin: A Raw and Riveting Solo Statement EP

From Canberra, Australia, Ben Rankin's newly released EP This Is More Than Enough is a fully unfiltered dose of emotion, weight, and internal expression. Written over a week with nothing but his thoughts, this five-track release is chaos and catharsis from a one-man band staring down all too real problems of the internal spectrum. Self-produced, mixed, and recorded in his home studio, it's a remarkable feat of a lone artist demonstrating his own do-it-yourself mentality as he instills a sense of authenticity and urgency in the music. 

The tracks sample from early 2000s metalcore and post-hardcore styles, clearly reminiscent of Asking Alexandria and Avenged Sevenfold, while still finding a unique space to make it distinctly recognizable. Track "All Is Well In Hell" is a tempestuous flood of aggression indicative of a sonic dissipation, releasing an enormous amount of pressure already inside. Conversely, “Can You Stay Here?” may very well be the only truly vulnerable point found on the EP, which closes the EP with a hauntingly blissful resolution.

It's the tension between the heaviness and sensitivity that makes This Is More Than Enough so captivating. With mastering from Levi Russell, the EP sounds both polished and personal. 

Ben Rankin's work transcends a tribute to his influences; it becomes a powerful expression piece that delivers a lasting emotional reaction. If you enjoy emotionally driven metal, then this EP gives you what its title tells you it will and more.