This is the first release from this hardcore five-piece hailing from Brighton. While descriptions and tags can sometimes be ambiguous and misleading, their self acclaimed characteristics: "Post-Rock inspired cathartic misery" not only lives up to but exceeds the expectations created by such a claim. While this is only a three track affair, the amount of genuine power, passion and dynamic sensitivity present makes this EP feel like it is, figuratively, bursting at the seams. With two long songs bookending this piece, you can enter into this expecting something quite ambitious, quite intense and quite interesting which will most definitely be rewarding and enjoyable.The way in which all of the songs flow naturally into each other makes this an even more enjoyable listen. In some ways it is perhaps better to view it as one continuous twenty-three minute song.
The opening of this EP sets the mood with a very despondent guitar passage accompanied lightly with the drums. This motif gradually begins to reach a crescendo, giving way to the first heavy, ballsy riff. This is a fantastic beginning as it shows the important role of the tension and release build up which is present later in the EP and can be seen as a nod to their post-rock influences.
This post-rock characteristic is continued through the ethereal tremolo picked guitar leads that are present throughout this release and wouldn't feel out of place on an Explosions In The Sky LP for example. It's dark, it's haunting, it's emotional and the contrast of having the beautiful alongside the ugly, distorted guitars and relentless drums highlights these features and the feelings that they are able to evoke. This sound is mirrored in the vocals which sound painful and passionate in their harsh, screamed delivery.I feel in some ways that the vocal delivery could make or break this release for some listeners but I also feel in the context of the music, they are more than appropriate for the atmosphere that is produced.
In addition, the production is also very effective for this particular style. It is impressive to see a band in this stage of their infancy with such a great grasp on their particular musical direction and mix which is normally quite a rarity. All of the instruments are balanced nicely and the constant changes in dynamics are managed with care. The nuances in the drumming are particularly impressive, such as the cymbal accents and it is nice to hear how they are highlighted in the recording. However, some of the clean vocals could have done with being louder, especially in the first track where they are buried slightly beneath the guitars and drums.
I suppose in some ways the beauty and curse of this release is how a lot of its potency is subjective and it is down to the listener to make sense of it. Some sounds cannot simply be described arbitrarily; they need to be felt... and there are a lot of spots on this EP that I don't want to ruin for any potential listeners. This is an EP that I would highly recommend you listen to if hardcore, screamo, post rock and punk are styles that interest you. Rating- 8/10
Listen to the full EP here!
Links to their Facebook, Bandcamp and Bigcartel are here:
https://www.facebook.com/WeNeverLearnedToLive/info?ref=ts
http://weneverlearnedtolive.bandcamp.com/
http://throughlove.bigcartel.com/product/we-never-learned-to-live-s-t
Show these guys some love and buy that damn sexy vinyl... I mean, just look at it. I would...
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