Elevator music? Not quite the kind you’d expect to hear between floors. With Elevator Music, Cambridge-based heavy rock quartet SUNMACHINE trade background noise for towering riffs, melodic hooks, and a healthy dose of emotional turbulence. The EP moves between heavy-hitting rock and introspective songwriting, revealing a band equally interested in sonic impact and emotional depth.
SUNMACHINE comprise Kieran Osborne on vocals, Jacob Wix on guitar and backing vocals, Ross Shelley-Pilsworth on bass and synth, and Ethan Larcombe on drums. Following their debut album The Nova Effect and singles like “Mercy Killing” and “Heart Of Gold”, the quartet continue to develop their blend of heavy and alternative rock, drawing on influences ranging from TOOL and Alter Bridge to Linkin Park and Green Day.
Across Elevator Music, that combination gives the EP its character. Heavy riffs and forceful instrumentation meet melodic passages that allow the music room to breathe. Rather than sticking to one emotional register, SUNMACHINE explore the space between intensity and introspection, balancing the energy of a band built for the stage with a more vulnerable approach to songwriting.
At the heart of the release sits “Fable”, a dark, emotionally charged track exploring heartbreak, desire, and the struggle to find meaning after loss. The repeated plea, “And I’m begging you to give me / Something more,” captures the frustration of searching for answers when a relationship falls apart. Images of angels, tragedy, and a dying sun give the song an almost apocalyptic atmosphere, while its emotional core remains deeply personal.
The track balances heaviness with melody, building an anthemic quality around its introspective lyrics. Its title adds another layer to the story: “We are building a different fable” suggests the possibility of rewriting a narrative that no longer makes sense. Rather than offering a neat resolution, SUNMACHINE leave us somewhere between longing and defiance, making the track’s emotional tension all the more compelling.
The band’s collaborative approach extends to the recording process, with the quartet writing their material together and developing ideas through rehearsal-room jams. Shelley-Pilsworth produced the EP in-house, alongside assistant engineer Greg Kovacs and mastering engineer Chris Pavey. The result reflects a band committed to maintaining creative independence while refining their sound.
Elevator Music is anything but background noise. By combining heavy riffs, melodic hooks, and moments of vulnerability, SUNMACHINE deliver a release that explores the emotional possibilities of heavy rock. “Fable” stands out as a compelling centrepiece, but the EP’s broader appeal lies in its contrasts. With Elevator Music, SUNMACHINE prove they aren’t content to stay on the same floor for long!
