Following my publication of Murf's Already Dead a week or so ago, I received an Instagram message from Learning Curve labelmates The Triceratops asking if I was up for reviewing their debut release, this here S/T EP, so here I am doing exactly that.
A duo from Brooklyn, New York the band are comprised of John Van Atta - Vocals/Guitar) and Josh Lozano on Drums/Vocals who met when they were working as stagehands at legendary Punk club CBGB where they would bond over 90's Grunge and play covers of Swedish Post-Hardcore outfit Refused in their downtime. Following the sad closure of the aforementioned CBGB, the duo would forge their own paths, Lorenzo touring with various bands and Van Atta working with kids with autism. The pair later reconnected at a gig by Welsh Noise-Rockers A Future of the Left and henceforth The Triceratops was born! Interestingly, the band's name isn't the only thing to reference dinosaurs as the EP's cover-art testifies to (and as was designed by a student of Van Atta's). The EP follows two demo tracks that were released in April 2023 and precedes upcoming full-length debut Charge! which should see the light of day sometime in the summer (July), all being well.
'George Romero Got Flesh Right' has an interesting sound which finds a heavily anthemic approach employed by the band that oddly reminds me of Bruce Springsteen, especially with the somewhat gruffly earnest Vocal delivery. Also noticeable are hooks, of which there are plenty, as well as reference points to Grunge, Melodic Hardcore, Punk-Pop and the whole raft of bands that would follow in Nirvana's wake (pun not intended) aka Jawbreaker, Gaunt and Down By Law. A superb opening statement of intent. 'Pull Me Through' builds slowly with acoustic Guitar before launching into bracing Indie Rock ala Superchunk as well as touches of yearning Emo, not the Hot Topic woe is me variety, thankfully, but bands such as The Get Up Kids and Jimmy Eat World. Growing up on a steady diet of that stuff prepared me well for the charms of this number.
'Half the Triceratops' is a brief, make that extremely brief acoustic interlude piece at a mere eighteen seconds long that offers the listener a respite, before 'Orcas of the World Unite' a strange piece that starts with the sound of er, orcas (?) is unleashed. The track takes the band down a more Noise-Rock, even Hardcore route, which feels like a necessary diversion in tone and tempo, helping to demonstrate that whilst the band have a perfect knack for knocking out beautiful melodies, they also have an ability to kick our asses too. 'Iocane' (a Princess Bride reference?) is the album's longest track at over six minutes and features absolutely gorgeous piano work with a mournful, haunting and tragic quality reminiscent of the late Elliot Smith. When taken in combination with the Guitar histrionics of J Mascis and Thurston Moore you have all the hallmarks of an absolute classic and thus an appropriately downbeat conclusion to the record.
This isn't the sort of release one would necessarily associate with Learning Curve, as while there are traces of Noise-Rock present, these guys really stand out on a label that is for the most part predominantly dominated by bands from that genre. Its to the label's credit therefore that they decided to sign a band as unique as The Triceratops and the band should be commended for sticking to their creative guns to produce such a wonderfully fun and versatile release that bodes well for their future. Exceedingly promising.
コメント