Loyalist - Train Tracks EP
So for my first review, i had to make sure that i did
something BIG, and something AWESOME! So i decided to kick it off with a bang,
by reviewing the Wonderful, brand new EP released by Toronto's
"Loyalist", entitled "Train Tracks".
First, i just want to give a quik introduction to how i
first found out about them, and my first experience with them. I had
first come across Loyalist, on YouTube, while stumbling around, i
came across their guitar play-through for their first single
"Normandy" and was simply amazed! Shortly after discovering they were
then from Toronto (not to far from me) i started talking with their lead guitar
player, Connor Robinson, and was informed they were still looking for a
vocalist. Slightly upset that they were not show ready yet (I couldn't book
them yet), I waited patiently for them to get a vocalist. Not much
longer they released another single "Discover" with a music video,
showing the whole band at this time, Drummer, Glenn McGlue, rythm guitar player
Adrian hawryschuk, Connor their bass player, Flavio Branco, who was singing the
chorus of the song. But they still didn't have any Main vocals. Not to long
after that, they released the GREAT news of now having 2 front men, Mike
Cutway, and Jack Balaga! They were now set! I booked them first chance i
had, Dec 21st 2012, my "End of The World" show, with 9 bands, @ The
Brunswick Tavern, In St.Thomas. They took the stage, and everyone was blown
away!! Great stage presence, and attitude that kept up with the crazy guitar
skills, and tight drum beats! FINALLY, I HAD HEARD THEM WITH THEIR
VOCALISTS!!! A guy opens his door and gets shot, you think
that of Loyalist? No, They
are the ones who knock!!
So, on April 5th, 2013, their EP "Train Tracks" is
released.
The Ep starts off with self titled song "Train
Tracks". Starts with some warming ambient sounds, leading right
into a heavy guitar riff,with solid double kicks complementing the riff very
nicely! It doesn't take long before some crazy guitar licks are thrown in your
face, put with a surprisingly melodic feel! The song seems to slow down with
the slower drum beat, but that solid melodic guitar riff keeps it speed and
keeps you headbanging, while appreciating a wicked guitar riff! There is still
some chuggy chuggs to keep the heavy, but they never rely on it, (and they
ussualy have lead over top of it lol). A lot of the heaviness comes
from the drums and the vocals spitting back and forth, and the bass supporting
all the interesting, guitar work, not leaving much time to recover from the
heavy assault! A few things ensure this was the perfect opening song, the ambient
intro, the perfect speed - heavy ratio, and the "epicness" created in
the process of keeping it melodic, at the SAME time. Climactic ending
to say the least.
Song #2, "Normandy". So like i had mentioned
earlier, they released a guitar play-through for this song, as their first
single. So i had known the song for SOME time, and had NEEDED to hear it with
vocals!!!! The song starts off with some slamming powerful chords, producing a
really cool melody, one you can NOT stop your self to bob along, or dance along
to! In enters the vocals, in the most precise patterns! The song
slows down, but only for a few seconds, JUST long enough for a little mellow
guitar tapp/slide riff, before bring it right back to heavy guitar riffs and
and back and forth attacks from the vocals, again all vocal patterns so
precise. With the support of a really bridge, they lead into a chorus, with
clean vocals done, by their bass player, with supporting screams, coming in
afterwards. During the chorus, i always feel so locked into the song, the lead
guitar plays plays a nice progressive, melodic riff, while keeping in perfect
harmony with the heavy pounding rhythm and hard smashing drums,with
the perfect symmetry of vocals on top, like i said, you can't help
but bob your head! The song continues to escalate, to an in your face
breakdown, that is quickly brought back to life by a really powerful,
moving guitar solo, that gets you groov'n! The song never dies down, and always
has your attention. The crazy melodic guitar work and the heavy as balls drums,
support some of the most memorable lyrics, and quickly became stuck
on repeat on my itunes!!!
Song #3 is the other song they released as single, with am
music video. "Discover". They Had released re-released Discover
before the release of the Ep, With vocals on it, renaming it to
"(re)Discover". So i had already been quite familiar with e track, as
it was all i had to listen to for so long, as i awaited the release of the ep.
Starts off a lot slower then the previous 2 tracks, however keeps the
melodic, rhythmic riffs, while a very progressive guitar solo leads
us, into a more progressive section of the song. a sudden cut of
guitars leaves clean vocals and cool bass work, leading you to think its going
to be a ballad, but its only a moment or two, before the guitars slam back in,
on-Que with drums. With the guitars, comes back the heavy screams, with
the clean vocals breaking through, really adding a new dimension not seen yet.
We get a short little breakdown that comes quickly the clean vocals
follow over top of the breakdown, a scream is held and comes in from
behind the cleans, over top of the breakdown and fades into some hard hitting
guitar riffs supported perfectly by the double kick patterns. Behind the
vocals the guitars switch to a really interesting off beat chugging
pattern to tremolo riff then cool bend, second time it repeats, there
is a wicked lead guitar lick over top of it, then suddenly the song ends, but
ever so perfectly.
song #4 kicks off really fast, with fast double kicks and
mellow, tremolo guitar/bass riff, with some heavy
and perfectly placed snare/tom/ crash hits, all with a nice ambient
sound flowing really nicely, in the back ground. Fits nice, as the track is
titles "Oceans" and this song really flows! Every riff seems absolutely perfectly
placed, and like there was no better way to go! All the signature keys, the
progression, and heavy hitting melodic riffs, with the Heavy attacks from the
vocals. Another really moving guitar solo approaches us, leading us into one
HELLUVA heavy breakdown!!! Definitely the heaviest thing
yet on the Ep, this breakdown will have you splitting heads in the mosh pit,
and throwing down in your bedroom! ...Wait the song is over? lol the song ends
EVEN MORE abruptly then the last track, it literally just stops, but
FUCK that was heavy!!
Song #5 is the last song on the Ep, entitled
"Perspectives", and you can really tell they didn't want to leave
anything behind! This song hits off the heaviest yet, right into it, after a
cool sounded "effected guitar" with volume swells. EVERY note in your
face, the drums and guitar work REALLY benefit from each other! From
heavy progressive riffs, then climax at heavy bone crushing
chugg patterns. The song missions on continuing to be demolishing, but they
always come right back into a cool melodic guitar riff, that just GRABS a hold
of your soul! in this case, a really mellow guitar solo stands out over top, of
a really harmonic, rhythm section, that grabs you, and its good thing
it does, because the song then spirals down into another heavy,
progressive riff, with every note hitting ever so hard, Complemented perfectly by the drums, and some awesome
back and forth guitar work. Another guitar breaks in as
the rhythm guitar starts to progress, and we are left with a really
epic, melodic, soothing, lead back into one of the previous heavier
riff which comes to an abrupt end, leaving you thinking the song is
over, BUT then out of no where a hard hitting breakdown comes out of no where,
leaving you with nothing to do but destroy anything, and everything near you.
What a great end to an Ep.
So all in all, this Ep
is absolutely great! I had HUGE expectations for it to live
up to, after waiting so long, and seeing them KILL it live, before finally
getting a chance to listen, and go over the recorded tracks, and they killed
it, its all so brilliant. Everything complimented
everything so perfectly. The Vocals patterns are perfectly, and precisely placed, and there their
guitar work REALLY keeps you interested as you listen and groove to this ep,
its all ways different yet
along the same lines, ALWAYS intriguing, and has some really memorable lyrics that
will have you will have stuck in your head for days to come! I suggest anyone
into epic, progressive, melodic metal core to Download, and pick up this Ep, as
well as go check them out and show them some love on facebook, and at a local
venue near you! They are quite an awesome band, and really are a treat to see live!
They will quikely become one of your favourite bands aswell!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Loyalistband?fref=ts
Bandcamp: http://loyalist.bandcamp.com/album/train-tracks-ep
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Loyalistband
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