Album Title: “Of Misery and Toil”
Release Date: April 27, 2010
Label: No Idea Records
Matt Farrell – Guitar, Vocals
Dave Hall – Guitar, Vocals
Chris Jordan – Drums
Mike Carter – Bass, Vocals
From the brink of looming collapse, Young Livers return triumphant. Out of public eye, they’ve spent the past two years toiling and tinkering, channeling their frustrations and rage into the eleven songs found within. With the addition of Mike Carter, they’ve found themselves unified on all fronts, an intuitive mental bond as only they can explain. Their songwriting has subsequently taken on another dimension, as Mike’s scathing wail and stringent bass lines meld seamlessly with the commanding rhythms and compelling guitars found on their early releases. Most noticeable, one will find that as Mike’s vocals have overtaken the tortured lows and highs, Matt has found his voice in a more melodic mid-range, the rocky shores against which Mike and Dave’s gutted screams crash and echo.
Since their inception, one of their most striking aspects has been their meticulous attention to detail. While at times we’ve found our hands clamped around their throats, the finished product has always shined through at the last moment to save the Livers from a premature demise at the hand of label tyrants. From their custom, complementing Acorn amplifiers to dozens of late nights spent arguing over song order and art colors, they stand as a testament to patience and steadfast determination within an artistic medium plagued by haste and frivolity. As a result, the culminating effort radiates an underlying majesty and grace that belies their more overt aggression.
Maybe it’s the months of waiting and scheming, or my own personal proximity, but something sets this record apart from the rest of the pack. In my eyes, it occupies an expanding void, equal parts ghost story and ethereal behemoth, only to be discussed in hushed voices cast in dim candlelight. It satiates every desire and speaks to each emotion in cutting truth shrouded by metaphor. To deny it’s crushing power and monumental importance is both foolish and amateur, as every word and note hangs in well-deserved confidence and brutal honesty. Bitter resentment stands eye to eye with stalwart defiance. Pulse quickens. Blood boils. End scene. Curtains close.
No Idea Overlord Var says…
Propulsive, relentless, dark, driving! Dueling guitar leads, monolithic howl! As much as they want me to mention the first ‘Crue EP, I just can’t do it. Thin Lizzy, I’ll mention! Deep melodies, soaring despair, cryptic journeys, all wrapped in a twisted, anthemic sense of hope, buried under the weight of life and crushing riffs! Undeniable and immediate!
