EP REVIEW: Roger Podacter – Laces Out
Marching out of Orange County, New York, LACES OUT have presented their first venture of 2022 with their Roger Podacter EP. Full of moments to lash out to, euphoric choruses and riffs that could cut through an enemy like a battle axe, this second EP is an amalgamation of over 20 years of experience between the three band members.
The EP opens with lead track Steady, a post-punk whirlwind that has dominating battlecry vocals and writhing riffs. Its verses are fast and breathless, meanwhile the choruses are the perfect moment to unleash that bottled up yell you’ve been holding in. Summoning that visceral element is key for this track; there are a few guitar breaks that sound slightly out of tempo causing for the track to feel clunky at points though.
Things are definitely cleaned up in Brick By Brick though. Again the vocals are amazingly raw, the looseness can’t help but remind you of something akin to D.C. hardcore. The same effort is offered on Consequences with a battering ram output to frontman Edmund Ciarfella’s voice. Equally as tough are the drums laid down, sounding like a nail being hammered into a floorboard. There’s something about it that just scratches your brain to bleed the sweet, sweet dopamine.
Almost in a flash Ox closes the EP with an early on glum sense of dread. Gentle strums feel deflated and tasked and Ciarfella‘s vocals have an unwilling tone to them for the first time during the EP before things get knocked up a small notch. Droning riffs become heavier and the bass becomes the backbone of the now larger noise.
Short but very sweet indeed, LACES OUT have set a statement and level of expectation for their first release since 2017. Roger Podacter‘s genuine emotions are its greatest strength by far and are only bolstered by rage, its pace is wonderfully thick and fast with a playful element thanks to the guitar work. The trio have successfully nailed their comeback.
Rating: 8/10
Roger Podacter is out now via Nefarious Industries.
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