Having lived in a small county where local hardcore makes up the majority of the scene, I’ve seen from bad to worse when it comes to the hastily thrown together bands of Straight Edge “Brotherhood”. But despite what I’ve experienced in my own scene, I do still hold some faith in the hardcore genre. For every handful of noisy sound-splicing teenagers is one or two legitimate groups of musicians that know what good hardcore is made of. I had my faith reinstated the first time I saw Columbia, MO musicians Let Lions play.
With a performance packed with just as much energy as talent, it was almost impossible to walk away from their set. Vocalist Johnathon McDowell takes the stage by storm, pacing and climbing on top of amps as he gives his all to the microphone. His fellow musicians express a similar intensity, thrashing andjumping, giving nothing less than 100% to their own showmanship. The one exception in this performance is drummer Drew Sidel, who stays surprisingly cool and collected during the uproarious performances of Let Lions. While at first glance it may seem like Sidel isn’t doing much of anything, take a moment to listen and you’ll hear exactly where all his energy is being channeled. A great talent can make up for an unenthused performance, and Sidel is a prime example of that. Accompanied by flashing lights, each performance of Let Lions that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing has been consistent with its ability to draw a listener in. There’s very fine line between showmanship and showboating, and these Missouri musicians have never once teetered too far over it.
If I were to try to explain the sound of Let Lions I think the best comparison would combine characteristics of vocals from At the Drive-In with the instruments of As Cities Burn. Also featuring the voice of guitarist Sam Hunt, offering up his singing skills in a few songs, the accompaniment gives Let Lions a little more of an accessible sound than most hardcore bands. Screams that are still audible and music that goes farther than the abuse of a bass pedal, Let Lions is a brand of Hardcore that even the most devout of Indie kids can listen to and enjoy. A common complaint from naysayers of hardcore is the fact that it isn’t a music genre as much as it’s just a bunch of noise. To such people I wouldn’t argue, but simply hand them a copy of the Let Lions EP With no spine to speak of. This five-track c.d. is a strong representation of the band, carrying the same force as any live performance, and a good choice in song.
Lyrically the words screamed out by McDowell come with the same punch as his voice, with well-chosen language that gets straight to the point. Slightly abrasive without being too harsh lines such as “We speak of evil you can’t imagine, wrap your head around what could happen when you’re faced with this disaster” in the song Wyoming are a good example of the way Let Lions expresses themselves. While most of the lyrics in Let Lions have a slightlyharsh and warning tone to them, they diversify in the song The Muse and the Pugilist, repeating “To live for, to die for, all of you who helped me through. In the womb of the plenty, on the brow of the weary there is life”
Overall Let Lions is an opus of energy, combining the passion and talent of all five of its members. Personally I haven’t enjoyed hardcore this much in long time, and though the band has recently split I can’t wait to see what members of Let Lions will toss our way next. [myspace.com/letlions]
Tags: Album Review, Local Music
