Transference by Side Chain: Review

by admin June 14, 2025

June 14, 2025

Side Chain’s latest single, “Transference,” is an explosive, tightly crafted, and emotionally raw sonic wildfire. Dropped on 26th May 2025, this track from the Little Rock-based power trio pushes the boundaries of what modern metal-rock can feel like when fused with precision production and heartfelt intensity. From the opening seconds, you’re hit with shredding guitar riffs that rip through the silence like a buzzsaw, while James “Chip” Pennington’s vocals enter in a hazy, muffled tone, aching and distant, as if already submerged in the storm. The track wastes no time kicking into high gear, with Stephen Shatzer’s drumming pelting the rhythm like a storm of bullets, fast and unrelenting, anchoring the chaos with militaristic control.

Dustin Miller’s guitar work is a fierce and layered beast of its own, quivering with distortion and drenched in a tonal palette that nods to bands like Tool and Pantera. The production here is key: meticulously recorded at Shrapnel Sound, the band’s personal studio, “Transference” shows off an intricate multi-pedal guitar setup and quad-tracked intensity.

Lyrically, the track focuses on love, but not the soft, dreamy kind. It’s the agonizing, guttural, all-consuming brand of affection that bruises and blisters. Pennington’s vocals rise into a climactic, tormented belt by the bridge, practically tearing themselves apart against the blazing backdrop of feedback and crashing cymbals.

“Transference” is Side Chain’s best work to date and a full declaration of identity. Check out the video on YouTube.