With the first proper release from The Republic of Wolves (better known as "that band mistaken for Brand New"), the Long Island youngsters prove they've got the skills to shelter fans from the quickly closing Brand New camp.
On the His Old Branches EP, the band chooses to fully master the four demos that ended up released on Youtube as Daisy demos. While no real change is made to the face of the cuts, the body of the tunes went through some serious production work outs, emerging extremely beefed up. In my humble opinion, "Spill" showcases the superior songwriting and emotional power the band is capable of at such a young age.
New tracks include the winding opener, "Done Haunting Houses" and ghostly semi-ballad "The Clouds". The standout amongst them is the title-track: a jazzy free-form gem that builds slowly in the bridge before ripping into a seething, jagged solo. Though they keep themselves from straying to far from their formula, these cuts off enough progression to yield enough drool.
Addressing the elephant in the room: yes, the Brand New influence is unquestionable. The somber, slurring wails, the sound dynamics of "Cardinals", and pretty much all of "A Weather Vane" scream Fight Off Your Demons. Yet I'd argue, as Brand New appears to be coming to an end, The Republic of Wolves may just pick up where they left off. I mean, if they sound like late Brand New when they're first starting...that's a hell of a Square 1.
It'll be tough for The Republic of Wolves to break free from the shadow of their Long Island elders, but with the promise they possess, it's really hard not to root for them. Only time will tell, but His Old Branches is a great first impression.
Grade: B+
Buy: The Republic of Wolves - His Old Branches EP
MySpace: The Republic of Wolves
1 comment:
hell yes buddy, this album is legit. I gotta side with you, the title track is legitimate.
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