It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is about Every Time I Die that makes them as enjoyable of a listen as they are. Ex Lives is the sixth released full-length album by these remarkable gentlemen from Buffalo, NY. The new record screams out that, yet again, ETID are here to fuck you up.
Coincidentally, the first thing you hear on Ex Lives is what makes ETID stand out the most—the vocals. Singer Keith Buckley demonstrates his roots of the ’90s hardcore scene that he came from right off the bat. As always, the music is extremely aggressive and violent in its content. The sixth track, “Partying Is Such Sweet Sorrow,” is perhaps the most interesting one on the album. There are two distinguishable events that occur, making it send chills up the listener’s spine. The song begins with nothing but a banjo solo. Where some heavy bands have incorporated this instrument into their songs before, this differs, as it is not just a simple, short section. In this track, the banjo is actually shredding and playing heavy metal riffs. The breakdown of the song in its vocal section contains a harmony of Buckley’s own two different styles of voice, being screams and singing, which somehow works well with each other. Every Time I Die’s new release does a phenomenal job at showcasing the band’s intriguing sound.
For any fan of Every Time I Die, this album will most certainly satisfy the lust for sound that is sought out within their records. With the little bit of experimentation when it comes to different instruments, they still have yet managed to stick to the aggression that they try to portray in their music.
In A Word: Violent
