As some readers may know, I've recently become obsessed with the Canadian 90s emo/screamo-styled band Congratulations (live show linked here). After meeting the band and discussing putting out their debut album, I became much more aware of their other band - you know, the one that's been around since 2008 and has put out 5 records. I'll be doing a review of the band in the next two months, but until then I thought I'd post the entire LIFE IN VACUUM set that they played on April 18, 2014 in Hamilton, Ontario Canada. I have completely immersed myself in the band's new album, '5' for the past few weeks and it all kind of culminated at the concert when I requested 2 songs and they played them both. View the 2 below and then click the link to watch the entire 6-song set as well as 2 of the other bands that played that night - THE KETTLE BLACK and SLENDER LORIS.
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I have another reason for posting this, LIFE IN VACUUM and CONGRATULATIONS will play along SKETCHBOOKS and RESPIRE to support Chicago's screamy hardcore band ITTO on May 25th, 2014 in Hamilton. It's the first show I'll be putting on and I am stoked beyond belief at the lineup. I've linked the facebook event here and on the Zegema Beach Records page with the linked full set that was discussed above.
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1 - You Did It To Yourself (watch by clicking ZBR link for the full show, here)
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2 - The Edge of Boredom
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3 - I Don't Fit (watch by clicking ZBR link for the full show, here)
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4 - 1984 (watch by clicking ZBR link for the full show, here)
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5 - Van Life
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6 - Dead (watch by clicking ZBR link for the full show, here)
Genres: Screamo / Punk / Rock / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore Related artists: Gulfer. Country: Montreal, CANADA Years Active: 2013-present Song: "I Hope They're Right" Album: "Count It All In Joy" Year: 2013 Label(s):Self-released This post's artist is from the April 2014 Mix. This is track #13. You can download the April 2014 Mix#4 right here. For fans of: La Parade, The Sky Above And Earth Below, State Faults, Frameworks, Evylock, Circle Takes The Square, Adaje, These Arms Are Snakes, Alexisonfire, Caravels, Fear Before, Animal Faces, Moving Mountains, Caust, Dead Poetic and Endor aka PROPER Screamo.
WATCH FOR WOLVES are a bit of an anomaly. When I hear the soft/hard dynamic of post-hardcore with screaming and some clean vocals, I generally find it a watered-down copy whose genetic makeup is straightforward and not creative in the least (think of the 3rd clone in Multiplicity, assuming you're old as shit). This band employs their screaming vocalist about 70% of the time with soft clean vocals from one guitar player (the guy with the huge beard) about 25% and the other guitar player bringing home the final 5% with the catchiest melodies of all, who passionately croons whilst bordering on yelling. One would expect a lot of cheese, rehashed songs and gimmicks, but these 5 tracks are surprisingly original and they're the band's first recordings, so I'm left to fantasize about what they will do in the future. I should also point out that the bassist (David) is exceptional and plays in Gulfer, a math-rock outfit from Montreal.
"Picking Sides" shows the band with no vocal melodies, it's just a straightforward screamy post-hardcore song ala State Faults and The Sky Above And Earth Below. It is apparent from the get-go that these guys know how to write music and properly structure a song - and again, this is their first album!!! It's screamy hardcore, but there's a very obvious alternative/rock vibe underlying everything, as it doesn't get bat-shit crazy like other chaotic screamo bands. I guess they're a melodic screamo band (if we want to play the genre game) - but again, they have little-to-no cheese, unlike some of their brethren.
"I Hope They're Right" is by far and away my favourite WATCH FOR WOLVES track. This sucka has everything - Gospel/State Faults guitar wailing, screamed vocals, some well-placed clean vocals from the other 2 singers, driving melodies, some faster and more aggressive moments and a hell of a bass-driven breakdown at the 3:44-mark ("My best days are behind me!") that screams These Arms Are Snakes. The vocal interplay that utilizes all 3 vocalists during the final 30 seconds is another high point of the album. If you listen to one song, make it this one.
"Jacob" is the band's epic closer. This is a great song, but it also brings to the forefront one of my issues with the band. They are able to mix some clean vocals in really nicely that accentuate the music and melodies. However, it sometimes sounds forced and can border on what I would call "too emo". That's not a backhanded slap to the band or the genre, the occasional vocals just sound a little too nice, fragile, weak and thin for the music being played. When watching them live I noticed this generally all comes from one of the two guitarists. He usually hits some great notes, but occasionally falters in the choice of what singing voice he uses.
Also, they kick ass live and are amazing people.
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DISCOGRAPHY
Click )==>here<==( to download the band's complete discography.
Genres: Punk / Hardcore / Rock / Screamo Related artists: N/A. Country: Hamilton, CANADA Years Active: 2012-present Song: "Know Better" Album: "Scrutiny" Year: 2013 Label(s):Self released This post's artist is from the April 2014 Mix. This is track #11. You can download the April 2014 Mix#4 right here. For fans of: Wolves, Descubriendo A Mr. Mime, Books Lie, Foxmoulder, Ecorche, Four Hundred Years, Jenny Piccolo, Anasarca, Innards, Arrow In Flight, State Faults, Watch For Wolves, Ogni Giorno, Daniel Striped Tiger, Bravo Fucking Bravo, and Twelve Hour Turn.
SKETCHBOOKS are a band from the Canadian city in which I reside, Hamilton. 5 months ago they released a very promising album titled 'Scrutiny' that immediately caught my attention. The band's first album 'Sick On It' is much more simplistic, dark and dirty with more of a thrashy, lo-fi hardcore feel, while the new EP is a much more refined endeavor, touching on numerous styles and mixing them seamlessly. If I had to give a condensed description of the direction SKETCHBOOKS seem to be heading, it's a bastard mix of the Level Plane gods Wolves-inspired screamo, raw emo and straight up punk. There's a lot of awkward rhythms, caustic vocals and great basslines littered throughout the noise, as well as really catchy riffs and almost spacey/ambient riffing ala Dolcim, Frameworks and State Faults in "Know Better". Then you've got the first half of "Exceed Nothing", which is the audio equivalent of rust and sparks in a car repair shop. After that first minute, the band drops into their best Four Hundred Years meets Wolves romp that is probably the most driving thing they've recorded.
The Hamilton scene is growing, due to many passionate and involved people. So if you come through Hamilton (1 hour away from Toronto and closer to the US border), chances are I can set you up with a show and SKETCHBOOKS will definitely be asked to play.
