After a 4-year hiatus, Johannesburg metalcore/deathcore band, A Fate Like Yours, is back with a thunderous bang, having performed their return show during the recent Secrets SA tour. Prepare yourself for some of the heaviest local music to make a comeback on live stages. Here is a look at some of their best songs to refresh your memory or to expose you to as a first-time listener to some hard-hitting tunes. The band consists of Brad Morrison (vocals), Ryan Daly (lead guitar), Greg Daly (guitar), Chris Bastiaanse (bass) and Leon van Rooyen (drums).
5. When Words Fail
‘This is the end!’ is how this track starts off, with deep, growling vocals combined with blistering bass fuelled madness in the first verse. This is some of the heaviest material the band has produced and, after seven years, it has still stood the test of time. Van Rooyen’s double bass drumming combined with dissonant guitar notes and some filthy vocal tones characterise this track. ‘When words fail, follow your heart, nothing can bring you down,’ encapsulates the positive core message (no pun intended) that the band aims to bring.
4. Smile, You’re On Fire
This is another oldie but goodie from A Fate Like Yours, where aggression is present from start to finish. The song is an absolute joyride, from beginning to end, for any metalhead with tempo changes, breakdown, blast beats and everything including the kitchen sink thrown into this track. My favourite part is where Morrison screams, ‘you’ve dug your own grave,’ followed by a mind-blowing breakdown. The lead guitar work and various melodies and solos are also a treat to the ear and you can truly see the band’s influences here with some August Burns Red and Texas and July-like riffs prominent here.

3. Vader Hater
This is definitely A Fate Like Yours’ most novel track with a signature metalcore opening riff and some ridiculous solos and melodies present. The lyrics are also positive, focusing on making the most out of life and not letting disappointment and regret chain you down. The sweep picking parts and tapping are like sweet honey for any metalcore fan and we must appreciate the skill level here. This goes on for about a minute as the guitars take centre stage – pure bliss.
The track ends off with Chris Bastiaanse’s bass thumping the ‘Imperial March’ from Star Wars before a squeal from Morrison and guitars add to the Vader-themed ending. This really deserves a listen.

2. The Mindless Are Easily Led
‘The Mindless Are Easily Led’ probably has one of the best intros the band has ever composed and written with a melodic, clean guitar melody building up with each musical bar. The drums from Van Rooyen come in to spice things up before the rest of the band joins in the carnage of the first verse. The song suddenly speeds up and hits overdrive with some tasty riffs and a massive breakdown forming part of the package. When Morrison screams, ‘The mindless are easily led’ it’s time to mosh – no other reaction is required. The lead guitar work is truly exceptional here and both Ryan and Greg Daly deserve applause.

1. Greater Good
This absolute banger of a track starts off with a distorted metal guitar riff from Ryan Daly before the rest of the band joins in to create some sweet melodies and fast-paced tempos.
The instrumental intro is at least one minute long as it builds up brilliantly with silky leads and a pounding double bass part thrown in for good measure. A blistering crescendo hits your eardrums at the beginning of the first verse when Morrison goes full tilt with his signature screams, ‘Amused at how people judge the broken. As if they aimed to be that way. Given half the chance they would change it No matter life or death.’The song, which focuses on how we disregard what we have and do not appreciate life and the greater good, flows brilliantly with harder headbanging parts and a cleaner guitar tapping section that switches the pace well in the chorus as Morrison screams, ‘he sees the greater good’ with blistering guitars and drumming proving the musical foundation.
The shredding in this song is some of the best in the band’s repertoire and the intricate parts really work well here. The ending, where Morrison screams ‘we are the blessed, you are the cursed,’ puts the exclamation mark on it.