Waterlines FKA Sertraline have been steadily making a name for themselves since their debut under their new moniker in 2022. The rabble rousing northerners made waves at Bloodstock Festival, racked up column inches in the press and have put out a barrage of singles that keep getting progressively better with each one.
They kick off 2025 then with their e.p WDGAF Vol.1 which includes all their singles up to this point, with the exception of their blistering cover of Pretty Green Eyes. One of the great things about Waterlines as songwriters is their ability to balance bounce and brutality. Something most modern metalcore band struggle to do, usually sacrificing one in favour of the other. Not here though, these songs are designed to get as many people jumping as they are moshing.
Prey has a thumping beat and one of the jangliest danciest riffs you’ll hear. There is a reason why this was a standout track upon release. This will put the “bounce in the mosh pit” as a wise man once said. This is all before that soaring chorus comes in, good luck getting that out of your head.
Set the Pace does just that. An aggro slice of electro core that gives you a little bit more of that salty & sweet style they give you. A massive clean standout vocal rubbing shoulders with a more vicious call out fuck you, fuck this vocal that perfectly showcases both sides of what they do.
Brace is a more straight ahead moment of focused brutality that borders on deathcore at times. It swings into the middle of the e.p like a left hook out of nowhere and hits just as hard. Konig is another rager that keeps the heavy pace going, sounding like Northlane on steroids. It’s a pummeling beast of a track that doesn’t let up until the last note.
Anti Human & The Halo around the Horns round out the E.P in spectacular fashion with two of the most energetic and riot starting songs on here, curiously the latter of the two songs ends the e.p which feels odd as it was the first song everyone heard when the band emerged.
WDGAF Vol.1 is a very impressive opening salvo from a band that is fully on the up. It gives the listener enough to sink their teeth into, giving you a full range of what Waterlines are capable of, but also leaves them with enough room to expand upon and grow going forward. If I had one complaint it would be that this release could have benefitted from a bit more new material to really show their growth as a band and give you more of an indication of where they are in 2025, but that is the nittiest of picks in what is an otherwise great e.p. that will surely see this band soar to new heights over the next 12 months.
