Review Summary: The childish name belies the wonder of a definitive, crafted band that deserves a greater audience than it has.
It's kind of stupid, and I'm reasonably sure other people do it too, but I often judge a band I've never heard on their band name. Sometimes you're sure to judge correctly; for instance, to steer clear of metal, dodge bands with names involving dead, corpse, flesh, hell, agony, or some sort of painful disease. However, following similar rules, you'd also evade such worthwhile sounds as Death Cab for Cutie.
Likewise, before even hearing bands with ridiculous or contrived titles, I'll ignore them completely. Such was the case of My Epic, a name that sounded like it spawned from the mind of some 14 year old Halo nerd with self-entitlement issues. Getting past that seemingly arrogant name was not in the least difficult when I finally decided to give it a listen.
My Epic bring something special to the table on
This Is Rescue. Although only an EP consisting of some 24 minutes of music, they showcase a unique blend of musical styles and technicality that belies their newcomer status. Borrowing aspects from indie rock, melodic post-hardcore and perhaps even a little post-rock, it creates a truly compelling and addictive mix that's harder to classify than it should be.
What I find most engaging about My Epic is their seamless ability to switch between slow, soothing melodies before upping the ante, bringing the proficient guitar work to the front for a high energy burst before descending back into layered, serene stretches of peaceful resonance. The sometimes sudden shifts are surprising and almost themselves insist that these morphing tempos are unnecessary and seeking to complicate a song when there is no need to. After a few listens, it's amazing how this nearly irritating trait of
This Is Rescue becomes it's most endearing and enslaving quality. Almost all songs on the EP feature this rewarding technique, ranging from the hard and fast switches of
Shadows to the subtle flow changes of
The Common Curse.
What makes their sound more captivating are the vocals. Adjusting to the mood of the song, they usher and enhance the drive and feel, guiding it to new heights.
En Machaerus displays the tenderness of the vocal work overlaying the delicate piano notes while
The Making of a Recluse showcases the rougher side of Aaron's voice as he screams "It's worth everything!" Unfortunately, that one line is all we hear of that gritter sound, and it's disappointing.
Having said that, the vocals aren't out of place from a new band's first EP. Although capable and complimentary to the instruments, it's hardly the driving force, and Aaron's inexperience is obvious, akin to the unpolished singing of Geoff Rowley on Thursday's
Waiting compared to their later work. Perhaps it's mean to pick on a fact that makes perfect sense, but it does detract from the overall sound.
Yet, the inspirational and well penned lyrical structures of songs steamrolls over that fault. The synchronised harmonies in
... And We Were So Close to Perfection fit perfectly, while my favourite moment of the album occurs in the absence of the instruments at the end of
The Common Curse. Amidst the silence, the echoed chants of the band repeat
This is rescue
This is absolution
This is mercy
This is our redemption
Finding things to dislike about this EP is hard, but the exclusion of a latent, heavier sound leaves a sense of what if. The atmosphere of
The Making of a Recluse drifted away from the established sound of the EP towards a pop-punk/rock style, but doesn't really satisfy; of course, leaving the listener wanting more is a mark of accomplishment rather than one of failing.
Perhaps the biggest shame about
This Is Rescue is they are so unknown and under appreciated. Brilliant music like this from a fledgling band is a delicacy and so many people won't experience this aural wonderland.
