Album Review: Laces Out – Here at the Ashram

A blend of rich and rugged instrumentation

Boldly lashing out from their home base in New York is punk band Laces Out. Made up of members Edmund Ciarfella as vocalist and guitarist, Steve DeLucia as the drummer and Ray Wasnieski on bass, the band came out with an album in the fall of 2022. Consisting of nine tracks, Here at the Ashram is an LP first heard by the world on November 18.

The opening track “Kick and Scream” lures listeners with an enticing guitar solo before a sharp turn into full instrumentation. The melody playfully repeats and interacts with both drums and bass during the first verse. Ciarfella’s voice fits nicely, sometimes melting through the song’s cracks, and other times digging into the tune with throaty vocalization. 

A strobe-like ballet music video accompanied the release of “Ipkiss Please.” Though this dance style is seen as gentle, the ballerina’s hard-working ferocity compliments this song’s grungy, head-banging texture. Beautifully restless and chaotic, DeLucia’s drums plunge into the song at full force after a distorted screech of electric guitar. Before Ciarfella chants his lyrics, his axe saws through a rumbling bass with shrilling bursts. Wasnieski’s bass is especially prominent at the song’s end, rippling with growls and kept in time by a steady drum beat.

Here at the Ashram closes with “The Truth Trolls.” Catchy guitar riffs squirm into the tune before hi-hats splinter into existence, along with some muddy thumps. Laces Out plays with pace, briefly spacing beats to sometimes build anticipation before Ciarfella’s vocals unfold. His voice sounds like he’s calling out from underneath the cluster of instruments, buried for dramatic effect. The song is raw, reckless and passionate as Ciarfella at last breaks through with melodic yells.

Laces Out provide listeners with a collection of memorable melodies in this rugged record. The songs are turbulent but tethered to each other through consistency of style: tasty, old-school punk. Tangled together, their instruments interact like a casual garage jam session, which makes for a captivating listen. Though just a trio of instruments, the band delivers a rich symphony to fill listeners’ ears. They may be Laces Out, but Here at the Ashram is drawing listeners in.