This is Only A Peace Test
Peace Test only. If this were an actual emergency we would be lower than DEF CON 5 . What is that you say ? Def Con ?!? Defense condition.
5 is peace time. Due to the stunt that was pulled in the movie WarGames we almost reached DEF Con 1. Or better known as WWIII.
So With that I give you Drug Church, A Place In The Sky and Peace Test. Let’s play a nice game of your choice later, right now we read.
Drug Church – Million Miles Of Fun and Detective Lieutenant
This is a song from an LP shedduled to drop on March 11 ’21 https://drugchurch.bandcamp.com/album/hygiene As a fan of Axe To Grind I could not help hear about this band due to Patrick from Axe To Gring being the vocalist. I’m always curious, so here we are.
I am excited to hear band referencing heavier music such as hardcore, but then totally spin off into other directions. There is alot more to it than just heavy riffs. The writers of this song are pulling from several genres. I love hardcore, metal, and things that are heavy, but there is something to be said about bands who merge melody with elements of hardcore. Case in point Million Miles Of Fun showcases hardcore guitar, bass, and drum heaviness. As a bonus an extra layer of melody plinks off and on in the spaces between.
This song and I suspect the whole Hygiene record will be a place I can go when I need something less abrasive but still headbanger heavy.
If these two tracks are any indication of what the LP will be like, then this one is going to make some waves.
Detective Lieutenant has an east coast post DC hardcore air about it. Vocals that border on spoken words. Stops that highlight the rolling bass.
This one’s heavy but even more on the trail of melody mixed with your favorite distortion pedal.
It takes a little more than just a bunch of kids playing power chords in mom and dads backyard or garage. Drug Church is more and seem to pick from early Sub Pop and similar bands.
This is what I think would have happened if some of the DC era bands didn’t break up and decided to go for the jugular with guitar riffs. I’m stoked to hear stuff like this .
The entire album drops March 11, 2022. I will be lurking and waiting to hear more tracks and there is even a third up right now for you prowlers like me.
A Place In The Sky – Isolation EP
Attention Ride fans. This EP can almost pass for unreleased Ride B sides from Carnival of Light or Tarantula. A Place In The Sky features Gavin Angus-Leppan. Playing in one third of electronic group Telemetry Orchestra. Onward.
First is Judge and Jury. Savory bass angles and guitar licks a plenty. Doubled harmonizing vocals like Ride. The strength and challenge of the songs is how much they sound like RIDE. It’s a matter of the listener’s perspective. I lean towards it being a strength more so than a challenge.
Second is Isolation. The title track. More tasty bass and treble plus hooks and a chorus that can get stuck in between yer ears. The lyrics and how they are sung are earworm worthy. The cadence crafted. “Isolation takes it toll on your soul..” If that doesn’t speak on 2020 up until now I don’t know what to say.
Next is Silver Thread. This track is an amalgamation of Gerry Love/Norman Blake paired with Mark Gardener / Andy Bell (i.e. chord progressions and vocals) The resemblance is uncanny but I dig the melody. I can’t not want to hear stuff that reminds me of these two bands. One point of contention is how criminally under rated RIDE and Teenage Fanclub were in the states circa 1990’s.
It’s my hope that the tunesmith Gavin Angus-Leppan will continue to shine the light and keep the nods going to the likes of Ride, Teenage Fanclub.
Additionally the school of bands that accompany them (think Creation Records, early 4AD). This would fit very appropriately on its own library shelf filed in with the modern works inspired by that era.
Last is The Cradle. This one departs out of RIDE territory and heads into Stone Roses and strong turnaround songwriting. The Cradle is where( through my lens), A Place In The Sky are pulling from their other influences. Mellow moods abide and acoustic and electric guitar runs dance together. There still is strong RIDE, Teenage Fanclub undercurrents. The Cradle seems to rock slightly different than the other three tracks.
A Place In The Sky delivers a tight EP. There is no shortage of competency in the writing, arrangement, and production. Sounds and tones are aesthetically pleasing. I do hope they push the envelope in some way. Depart from sounding like RIDE or embrace it but give it a real unprecedented twist. Love the twist. Even the Fat Boys cover of Chubby Checker.
Overall this one plays nicely with your favorite mellow afternoon and warm beverage. Room for cream ?
Peace Test – Pry – To Live A Lie Records
Hard hitter that was featured on thee Hardcore Podcast Axe to Grind. Pry, like so many bands are kicking ass all over the place. This is an LP that my peers had hoped for in the mid 90’s. Rather than the full frontal assault that Peace Test’s Pry is, we got bands trying to emulate Quicksand (and falling short). Or we got melodic “post hardcore”. File that under the originators of bookbag movement hardcore. I’m not trying to shit on how hardcore grew and took several hairpin, deviant, turns. As the Italians say “Vive Le Difference” Peace Test sounds like they come from the original school of 80’s hardcore.
Simply put, Pry is heavy, sans melody and puts the needle in the red on the aggression meter. It’s just full of tension and release.
Rather than go on and on.. Pry has fast and slow mosh. The heaviness is full of intent and the vocals are higher in pitch than the music. Think of how Springa’s voice from SSD flys above the chaotic frenzy of all the other instruments. Same effect. Also keep your commentary about SSD away from me if it’s political. My goal has no agenda politically. I’m just trying to tell you that this one is a full on rager. Go to To Live A Lie Records now. https://music.tolivealie.com/album/pry
This concludes the test. If you can check out my printed zine. Support these guys. It takes zero effort to shoot holes in people’s work but hours and hours to create works like these. Even if you shoot for poor quality urgent recorded in your mom’s basement tunes. Thank you for reading.