Last One Alive’s debut EP makes a powerful first impression with six tracks that go straight for the jugular, displaying a massive helping of speed, a great balance of singing and screams and a range of different influences.
It’s a ruthless start with first track ‘Run Away’. This band wastes absolutely no time in going fast and hard from the get go. But what stands out aside from the tempo is that the chorus, and many that follow, usually contain one or two twists of harmony that keep the ear interested. The next aspect that rings true immediately is the ability of vocalist Joel Dickson to strike that ever-elusive balance of screaming and singing. Both sides hold their weight brilliantly and without excessive or obvious studio trickery and that alone will win them countless fans.
Last One Alive are definitely fans of higher tempos, so much so that even the breakdowns still push it with little time for anything nearing sludge or doom territory. Neat and clean is their watchword so they prefer doubling up the tempo over half timing it almost every time. The band does show range with ‘Blood And Salt’ and its more moderate pace, delving more into early 2000s alternative hard rock but still retaining a noticeable and distinctive signature sound.
‘Dead In The Water’ brings the album to an appropriately thrashing conclusion and at six tracks it’s an easy album to consume, so much so that you’ll probably catch yourself going back to track one soon afterwards. There’s also a massively obscure hidden track. It’s ‘Run Away’ remixed into the vintage 8-bit sounds of a video game track. Basically, it’s a hilarious bonus to what is otherwise an album that takes its material seriously. It’s an admirably solid first effort that most importantly proves them capable of creating their own unique sound.
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Listen to “Last One Alive” below.
