ALBUM REVIEW: Past Lives – L.S. Dunes
It’s not often that a band has a completely dedicated fanbase before they even have an album out, but L.S. DUNES are clearly the exception. Labelled as the unofficial emo supergroup, L.S. DUNES consists of vocalist Anthony Green of CIRCA SURVIVE, guitarist Frank Iero of MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, guitarist Travis Stever of COHEED AND CAMBRIA, bassist Tim Payne of THURSDAY and drummer Tucker Rule, also of THURSDAY. While the impressive line-up shouldn’t bring any assumptions, it does mean expectations are high due to their collective experience. While this is possibly the most hype a debut album has had this year, that also means the risk of disappointment is high, and Past Lives will have to prove incredible to live up to the excitement.
Opening the album is 2022, and immediately it’s a powerful song. The soaring vocals, paired with heavy drums and guitar, create a perfect, angsty sound that is honestly expected from this line-up. The backing vocals add to the song’s melancholic energy, and the lyrics are memorable, if not a little repetitive. Next is Antibodies, which uplifts Green’s unique voice. With more pop-punk sounding verses and an emo-style chorus, this song will appeal to a wide audience, and the guitars are an important element in doing so. Grey Veins is one of the most memorable songs on Past Lives, with a punchy chorus perfectly built up through the drums. The lyrics really stand out, and the balance between emotional angst and more mature feelings makes a beautiful combination and feels like a good progression for the band’s members.
L.S. DUNES have mastered songs that feel like a gut punch, and both Like Forever and Permanent Rebellion do this. The latter has heavier vocals and strong drums, with rousing, angry lyrics, varying the emotions this album provokes. The lyrics are also significant in It Takes Time, and their simplicity make this track in particular feel very different, as they connect on a more personal level through storytelling. A key element is Green’s unclean vocal delivery, and this especially stands out on Blender and Bombsquad. Bombsquad in particular has both clean and unclean vocals, and the stark contrast between the two makes it feel both powerful and pleading. Closing the album is Sleep Cult, which is actually a complete change in tempo. Its acoustic guitars accompany the gentler lyrics, and this song definitely feels like the acceptance stage after the emotional release of the album as Past Lives suddenly appears to have come full-circle.
While it feels almost too predictable to say that L.S. DUNES have pulled off an immaculate debut album, anything else would be a lie. It probably isn’t news to anybody else that Anthony Green has an incredible voice, and combined with some amazing musicians, they have used their collective experience to establish a sound unique to them. Although it would be nice to see some more variation in what they can do together, it’s not really expected of a debut. Now L.S. DUNES have earned their ‘supergroup’ title, it’ll be interesting to see what else they can do.
Rating: 9/10
Past Lives is set for release on November 11th via Fantasy Records.
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