Review : EVERY TIME I DIE – “New Junk Aesthetic”

Every Time I Die – New Junk Aesthetic
released September 22, 2009 on Epitaph

The Buffalo quintet makes their Epitaph debut with their fifth full length. It starts on a slow, even burn with pervasive atmospheric noise. They then take that burner to the barn with the next—and shortest—track here, featuring Greg Puciato (Dillinger Escape Plan). After some interesting views of death (“Who Invited The Russian Soldier?”), enjoy the long and lascivious lead single with the best interplay ETID has ever crafted (“Wanderlust”). It’s a great example of Keith Buckley’s vocal control and unabashed honesty, ending with a sweet Southern-fried riff courtesy of brother Jordan, who also did the intriguing artwork. Most interesting is how they again flirt with that sound, rather than the progressive integration we heard over the last few albums (it’s obvious again in “Organ Grinder”). Ever more personal, “For The Record” plays out like a confessional exorcism, while “White Smoke” is practically a veiled suicide note meditating on the inevitability of replacement, and “The Sweet Life” is the height of ambivalence.

No one does stream-of-consciousness-rock-cum-metalcore with lyrics this clever or insightful, invoking everything from Shakespeare (6) to nursery rhymes (10) to infinite regression theory (7). Rocking an engaging fiery swagger while expanding and exploring one’s core is no mean feat, but ETID fearlessly charge forward.

FCC: 11
Try 1, *2*, *4*, 5, 6, 8, 10

01. Roman Holiday
02. The Marvelous Slut (feat. Greg Puciato of Dillinger Escape Plan)
03. Who Invited The Russian Soldier?
04. Wanderlust
05. For The Record
06. White Smoke
07. Turtles All The Way Down
08. Organ Grinder
09. Host Disorder
10. After One Quarter Of A Revolution (feat. Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy)
11. The Sweet Life (feat. Matt Caughthran of The Bronx)

Rating: