Angst and late night jams [single reviews]

By Ryan G

A little bit of angst, some sadness of being home from Audiofeed, and eagerness to relax in Ohio for a little bit all inform this latest batch of single reviews from yours truly.

Absolute Hero – “Bad Hero”: From the first time I chatted with Sarah Nichole over Facebook messenger five years ago, I knew she was a force to be reckoned with. Absolute Hero, if you’ve followed this blog for any length of time, you might know to be a pop-punk act with some alt-rock tendencies. Throw those notions out the window! Like Boston Manor who we reviewed not too long ago, this band is back in a more cinematic format. Sarah’s vocals are versatile enough to accommodate this new sound easily, and the band’s tendency to be hard hitting in any setting make the transition seem natural.

Lights Like Autumn – “Roulette”: Maybe I’m too easy to please but this mood I’m in has cinematic alt-rock hitting all the right places in my mind this evening. The latest song to do so is “Roulette.” “So find hope it’s not just in your head” is a basic truth and instruction many need to hear, and something I try to communicate to people myself. When you wrap it up in a bundle of adrenaline and power chords, that’s always a nice bonus. This, of course, is exactly what Lights Like Autumn did here.

Ottawa – “Strangers”: This band I have experienced only once prior to hearing this song (regrettably). They were the lone out of town act at a Skully’s Music Diner show that also featured The Wind and the Sea, Playing to Vapors, and Turtle Island. I’m glad to report that “Strangers” reflects my memory of the band presenting hook-laden rock music with a bit of muscle. This song takes the band in a poppier direction in the vein of acts like Dreamers, Mainland, and The Wrecks.

Coma Love – “Need”: Coma Love is a new dream-pop act based in Mansfield, OH—with emphasis on the pop. You might recognize the vocals of Aaron Nicolas if you ever listened to regional acts The La De Les or Trouper. The melody is simple yet infectious. I appreciate how this duo took a simple idea and added a lot of layers and depth. Taj Torrence adds a bit of rawness to the track with a verse expressing some self-explanatory honesty from the perspective of the songwriter. I’m looking forward to seeing where the prolific Nicolas takes this project next.

Lifeline – “Lovely”: Audiofeed was just what the doctor ordered to whet my appetite for melodic hardcore again. In the case of Lifeline, they bring to the table a brand of the genre that is especially polished and a little more atmospheric. You don’t often hear of a band in this genre embracing a big hook, but that’s exactly what Lifeline does in “Lovely.” Clean vocal choruses aren’t just for metalcore. This song is polished yet raw enough to feel real—I feel that many songs with this structure rely too heavily on back tracks and often don’t translate too well live. I have a feeling that isn’t the case with this band. I hope I’m right!

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