Issue
#121A
Jun. '09
One of the more noticeable trends in independent
music is the move to EPs. While EPs are not a new concept - they’ve been around
since the days of vinyl – it has only been in the past few years that we’ve
seen a rise in their popularity, and for good cause. An EP allows the artist
the ability to get their music out to the audience in a cheaper and more
quickly accessible format. The EP converts well into affordable downloads as well
as hard copies (CD format) and by splitting that “upcoming” album into 2 EPs or
more, the artist can write, record and release their music much quicker and get
the “follow-up” record into the hands and ears of their listening public faster,
so as not to suffer from the music/artist A.D.D. that so much of today’s audience exhibits. Whereas,
it might take a year (or more) for an artist to write, record, press, and
release a full-length album (thus losing any type of steam/hype/anticipation
their last release/tour garnered them). That, in the indie market, is almost a deathblow.
Keeping your music out there, accessible, fresh, and current is the key to
success in this day and age. Two of the artists who subscribe to this theory
and are making it work in their favor are Eula and Saint Bernadette.
Language of Threat is the 3rd EP release from Eula, following 2007’s Fill Your Heart and 2006’s Up In Arms. This D.I.Y. trio of Alyse Lamb (vocals, guitar), Jeffrey Maleri (bass), and Nathan Rose (drums) has succeeded in upping the ante with each
release by creating and recreating their own unique sound. Melding a cacophony
of wildness with major thrash, punk, and experimental Berlin style assault rock, Eula has produced a monster disc.
Equivalent to a Mythical Beast, Eula uses the gigantic rhythm section of Jeff and Nate
to lumber in with intense grooves that are the body of this beast. Thick and
heavy, these guys have a cosmic awareness of how to slam their “in-your-face”
punk attitude across the soundscape with a very knowledgeable, polished, and
raw feeling that is unique in today’s modern music. While Jeff and Nate keep
this beast crunching forward, it’s Alyse’s innocent, yet experienced, sharp-edged
vocals and guitar that are the teeth of this beast. Tearing through the rhythm with
an extremely seductive (in a heavy way) vocal, which at times can also be
shrill and warbley, and a razor pitch guitar that slices frantic to delicate
(sometimes within single notes), Alyse walks the tightrope better than most
leadpersons. It’s a very hard tightrope to walk, one that takes confidence in
what one is doing.
As a band, Eula exudes that confidence. Take a few listens to these
6 songs – another perk of the EP format, you can toss it on repeat and dig
along many times over. At first you might wonder whether you’re listening to another
Math Rock, Post Punk, or freaky Industrial Rock poser, but if you can throw out
all the preconceived influences we all reach for so quickly, you’ll find that Eula has done the same as well, and as a result, created
their own brand of rock. Eula has taken
their early D.I.Y. roots and fashioned a new genre, which this reviewer is
satisfied in calling Mythical Rock.
That, is Eula’s Language of Threat.
language of threat by
Eula
is available now for: $7.98 + s/h*
*Shipping
&
Handling charges:
USA - $3.00
for the first 2 CDs
ordered,
Add $1.50 per each CD after.
Canada - $5.00 for the
first
CD ordered,
Add $2.00 per each CD after.
Everywhere else -$7.00
for the
first CD ordered,
Add $3.00 per each CD after.
|
