1. Elemae - Pulse
2. Elemae - Hospitals & Mazes
3. Elemae - Fiction Mouth
4. Memorial - Who Are We To Say?
5. Memorial - If It Helps
6. Memorial - Munich
7. Soon - There Go The Boys
8. Soon - Inverse Ratio
9. Soon - Serenade The City
With Engineer Records third installment of 3-way splits for Engineer, we bring you triplicate new tracks from both Elemae and Memorial, as well as two new tracks and a signature track from a previous European full-length, from Soon. Each band compliments one another in an effects-laden yet propulsive indie rock sound, though the way each paint from similar musical palettes turns unmistakably their own. [Co-released by Embrace Records, Malaysia]
Elemae hail from northern New Jersey (USA) and have turned the corner on their 8th year of bandhood. An EP, a 7-inch, two long-player albums and countless compilations later, you could say they've learned their strengths and weaknesses and matured with each step of the way. Time has refined Elemae into the musically diversified band they are today. Putting forth some of their strongest material to date, these three new tracks are tensive conversational pieces, bearing their teeth with a quiet discomfort found in some pretty intense subject matter. (religion, healthcare, the virtue of honesty) These songs sound like the build-up to a heated discussion AND the discussion at hand.
Memorial call the historically stringent Richmond, Virginia (USA) music region their home and musically speaking, sound just as emotive and vibrant as those that carried the torch before them. Taking cues from the most earnest of times in post-hardcore (mid 90's) and marrying them with a sense of grandeur that make bands fill stadiums, Memorial comes out with a bang on their three debut tracks. Boasting the singer-guitarist from the belated Renee Heartfelt and a crew of seasoned players surrounding him, these songs are iron-clad anthems perfect for a maturing audience of post-collegiate rockers.
Soon rounds out the release by way of a burgeoning Benelux region, Belgium to be exact. Courtesy of the Funtime Records family of bands, Soon showcase their lightly-distorted post-new wave sound in the most memorable of ways. An immediate band to sing-along with, Soon's vocals are catchy and clean and just feel cooler than any band you've heard in a similar light. Musically, nothing falls short. Smart rhythms, ambient note bending, rapid wall of sound guitars...it's in there. It's a shame this band is not known more thoroughly on American shores. Here's to a few more ears turned and a few more fans earned with your first introduction to Soon.
With all three bands skimming along the perimeter of post-hardcore from which they cut their teeth, you can hear how their sound currently resonates beyond it's restrictions in directions each band culls from their influence. It's in the way Elemae, Memorial and Soon interpret their similarities, which makes them compliment a joint release cohesively, share some fans and not leave a redundant tone, one after the other.
credits
released April 29, 2008
Elemae:
• Chris Homentosky - Guitars
• Chris Smith - Guitars
• Craig Cirinelli - Microphone
• Dan Nolan - Drums, Percussion
• Mike Barbagallo - Bass Guitar
Elemae
(pronounced "L-M-A") - Genre hopping indie, alternative band from NJ/PA fortunate enough to release
music on Engineer Records/Ignition Records (England) and Embrace Records (Malaysia).
Members:
• Dan Nolan
• Chris Homentosky
• Craig Cirinelli
• Mark Cooper
•Mark McKenna (Zullo)
• Chris Smith
• Mike Barbagallo...more
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