L.O.E (Last of Eden) - I Was Not Magnificent EP (Review)

I Was Not Magnificent feels like an open wound set to music, unflinching, raw, and deeply human. The instrumentation is sparse at first, but the spoken words of bassist, Ben, draws you into a reflective space where the story feels as important as the music. It’s delivered without any embellishment, just truth.

Release Date: May 23, 2025

Track Listing:

I Was Not Magnificent

After All Is Said And Done

After All Is Said And Done (instrumental)

Music, and the spoken word. What is it about this combination that always lights a fire in my belly, and why does it resonate so strongly within my psyche? Maybe it’s the storytelling nature of it all, that welcomes you in and sits you down beside the fire. Maybe it’s that emotive tangibility that nestles within the vulnerability of somebody talking to such a vast audience that gives it a feeling of something way more personable and far more real? Whatever the connection is there are some bands that just do it right. Halifax’s L.O.E. are one such band.

Their latest EP, I Was Not Magnificent has just dropped and as sure as night follows day, the boys have once again nailed it! The opening track, and title track is a personal tale told through music and words. Its real life and its somebody’s everyday struggle, but through the beauty of post rock it also shows courage and strength. This track feels like an open wound set to music, unflinching, raw, and deeply human. The instrumentation is sparse at first, but the spoken words of bassist, Ben, draws you into a reflective space where the story feels as important as the music. It’s delivered without any embellishment, just truth. As the track continues to build, it never explodes, instead it exhales to a sigh until the crescendo hits. From there, it’s an escape, a release, a fuck you to life’s ever too often tests. It’s borderline manic, with its off-beat fury showing power and great joy in the face of adversity. It’s just a wonderfully written piece of music!

The second track, which is also here as a bonus instrumental piece is After All Is Said And Done and instantly spirals into a powerful riff driven journey of surrender and self-discovery, all narrated by philosopher Alan Watts. The track opens with a sense of weightlessness, echoing guitar tones that float over a bed of ambient textures, creating a space that feels vast and abounding. Layers build subtly, each adding a thread of momentum that nudges the song toward something towering and triumphant. After All Is Said And Done is a heavy track, built around chugging guitars and leaden percussions, but it somehow leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction and resolve, as if you’ve just walked through a storm and finally reached stillness on the other side.

L.O.E are a band that are bursting at the seams with an energy and a direction that’s ever so clear. Unmistakable in their sound and unrivalled when it comes to blending post-music with narrated passages, L.O.E are on an upward trajectory which has already seen them shatter the glass, post-panelled ceiling, as they continue their journey north, and to be honest, it’s showing no signs of slowing down! There is so much more to come from these guys, and I’m only too thrilled to be an onlooker and a supporter as they continue their voyage.