Deep Fantasy the third
album by Canadian punk band White Lung combines the high pitched, supersonic
guitar components of metal with the lightning drums of early 80’s hardcore
giants like Minor Threat. The quartet
has been at it since 2006 and has three full lengths under their belt, all of
which have received critical acclaim.
Their latest, just released in June of this year is a savage display of
what makes hardcore so great. Lead
singer Mish Way delivers her vocals in a whiny squeal but sounds amazingly
close to Meredith Graves while keeping her words clear and recognizable. Notable tracks off
Deep Fantasy include “Down it Goes” and “Just for You” which have
superb sing-a-long choruses and are prime examples of the caustic intensity
seen across the whole album. Hardcore
has always been a misunderstood genre and is difficult to do right but White
Lung has struck up a balance which sacrifices lo-fi sincerity for pure, raw
intensity. While many bands in the genre trade clarity for breakneck speed and power, White Lung manage walk a line
between their ferocious sound and Way’s clearly stated words. It’s refreshing to hear a hardcore band find
this balance incorporating rock and heavy metal influences with precise vocals similar
to early bands like Morris era Black Flag or the Dead Kennedys. All that said, the band clearly represents
the direction modern hardcore is taking and overall, I’d say it’s an impressive
one. I’d love to attend one of their
shows to see the crowd’s response as the attendees of hardcore shows are the unofficial
“fifth member” of the group and the force they add to the music only serves to
enhance the band’s sound and potency. I’ll
definitely be keeping my eye on White Lung and would love to see other hardcore
bands adopt the precision and tightness seen on
Deep Fantasy.
When Canadian noise punk trio METZ released their eponymous debut in 2012 I was indifferent. I thought it was good, but never thought it was anything revolutionary or radical. The albums 10 songs were straightforward grungy noise rock with a hardcore twist. An amalgam of other Sub Pop releases from the last 20 years. However, I recently gave their new LP simply called "II" a listen and I was floored. The power and sincerity I never noticed on their first album was readily apparent on their sophomore effort. Sharp, jagged opener "Acetate" sets the tone for the rest of the album with it's shaky vocals, whiny guitar strings, and a bass line that feels more like a kick to the face as it drives the music forward. Other stand out moments include the adrenaline fueled "I.O.U" and the sporadic tempo shifts of "Spit You Out". METZ finishes strong with "Kicking a Can of Worms"; a song that builds and builds before erupting like the violent volcano it is. You're hypnotized by the repetitive droning noise as the band leaves you with a farewell letter that shows they are more than just your average rock band. It ends up representing what makes METZ great. Using a variety of musical building blocks, the band incorporates the influences of 90's Seattle in a way that doesn't sound forced or overexposed. Their live show is supposed to be a smorgasbord of whipping hair, metal riffs, and a sludgy rhythm section which lets be real, is the perfect cocktail for mind altering rock and roll. A recent stop in Boston at the Sinclair saw the band playing with 2015 breakout band Bully and up and coming Seattle rockers So Pitted. Really wish I had been paying more attention to this band but they've certainly hooked me now. It's what rock is supposed to sound like in 2015.
