A vibrant debut of melodic masterpieces
Fresh from their Windy City premiere at Chicago’s famous Riot Fest, supergroup L.S. Dunes dropped their debut studio album on November 11, 2022. Members Anthony Green, Frank Iero, Tim Payne, Tucker Rule, and Travis Stever are all successful musicians in their own right, pulled from bands like Circa Survive, My Chemical Romance, Thursday and Coheed and Cambria. The Past Lives LP showcases L.S. Dunes’ original sound through the record’s 11 tracks.
Originally seen on Anthony Green’s summer solo project Boom. Done., opening tune “2022” plays with pace and intensity. Starting with Green’s declaration of “I’m not afraid to try,” the phrase’s final word ushers in fast-paced instrumentation enhanced by Rule’s hammering drum fills. The song slows as it introduces the later-repeated lyric “If I can’t make it ‘til 2022” followed in the first verse by “at least we’ll see how long I can swim.” The water-related metaphors continue with Green wishing to “drift away” as a result of his struggles with mental health and mortality. He feels that it’s difficult to stay afloat; living takes effort.
Though centered on Green’s personal battles, the lyricism of “2022” resonates with everyone, as the world collectively reflects on pandemic-related suffering, mental health and the uncertainty of survival. The agony materializes as both vocal and guitar wailing, finally settling into reverberated piano keys.
October 21 single “Bombsquad” fluctuates with a siren-like electric guitar reminiscent of vibrato. After a couple of bars of Rule’s head-banging drum beat, Green’s vocals hit a scratchy start, still high in register. The richly raw timbre of his voice pushes “Bombsquad” into a more hardcore realm of punk’s vast landscape. Melodic screams accompany a guitar that’s both smooth and shrieking, again edging with vibrato. Thematically, the song hints at both emergency and modern entertainment with lyrics like “Televised evacuation airs on the other side of every camera” and “Without a wire, how could I make my way out there?” The end offers layered vocals with enhanced hoarseness, sometimes muffled like a radio.
Originally released on August 26, “Permanent Rebellion” masterfully builds instrumentation and anticipation first with the lull of muted ringing, followed by a crunchy bass riff in tempo. Next, a stampeding drum roll charges into the tune just before sliding guitar distortion. When the regulated rhythm arrives, so does a series of sputtering guitar chirps. After this blast of bright electric axe, the instrument takes a break and gives way to first-verse vocals.
“Permanent Rebellion” illustrates Green’s range in texture as he contrasts smooth, tangy singing in verses with raspy outcries in the chorus like a hysterical snake. The extended second chorus layers both vocal qualities, a dynamic twist that also appears in the song’s final moments, along with a familiar muted ringing.
Past Lives is truly an album for our era. Pleasingly melodic with the scratch of punk, the L.S. Dunes LP captures Covid-related angst through poetic lyrics, diverse vocal textures and strategic instrumentation. They don’t need an album or two to get on their feet; they’ve all been on the scene before. The bandmates successfully blend their best for a cohesive overall sound. Polished mastering techniques and established talent highlight each instrument as they simultaneously complement each other. Despite its title, Past Lives is a depiction of our present selves and a preview of the band’s bright future.
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