Review Summary: A fun debut album that is filled with catchy songs, and great vocals. Being a very young band, these guys give people high hopes for the future.
Life On Repeat is a fairly new band that just recently got signed to Equal Vision Records (Chiodos, We Came As Romans). With that said, some would have the impression of "Oh great, another typical post-hardcore band...", but these guys actually do something right. Instead of layering songs with typical screams and breakdown after breakdown after breakdown, they focus on the melodies and vocals of each song, making each one as catchy as the next.
The first song and title track on the album is a great example of what Life On Repeat has to offer. Starting off with a groovy guitar riff, you can already tell that these guys are going to be catchy. They never stick to the "chug-chug" method, and when they do play a breakdown (which are only heard a few times through out the album), it fits nicely and doesn't seem forced. For example, the breakdown in "Struggle + Sleep" is very unexpected, but in a good way, as the band explodes in to a headbanger while using very rapid triplet chugs and insane kick triplets by the drummer which is a very talented one indeed. While these guys aren't that heavy, they still prove that they know how throw down.
What really caught my attention were the vocals of Patrick Purves. He has a good range, a great voice, and is really able to create melodies that will be stuck in your head for days. He also never screams, it's more of a harsh yell that he will do scarcely. This to me is refreashing because screaming in post-hardcore is starting to get very typical and tiring. One of the best examples of his vocals would be in "Southern Girls", where in the ending of the chorus before the breakdown he sings "You told me that you would love me forever, but it's girls like you that make me which I never have!", ending it with a terrific yell. Honestly, Patrick is what makes this band shine.
Now don't get me wrong, they still have a few issues they need to work on. For instance, although the lyrics aren't terrible and are structered well, they are not that innovative. Literally every song is about a girl or love. And the riffs are fun and catchy, but they never do anything that's different or play something that's outside of the box.
With releasing an EP and this debut album, Life On Repeat show promise and give listeners a refreshing listen with a great batch of songs that you can easily sing along with. They also put on a great live show (saw them open for Greeley Estates and The Plot in You, and LoR was easily the best band of the night). So if you are a post-hardcore fan that wants something to jam out to that isn't filled with chug breakdowns and typical screams, then go give these guys a listen. It'll be hard not to have one of their songs repeating in your head.
Recommended Songs:
Southern Girls
The Waiting Game
Struggle + Sleep
Sinking
