When this arrived on my doormat I half expected yet another California pop-punk band doing something incredibly dull that I’d heard a million times before. Thankfully I was wrong. Last Collapse play a brand of melodic skate punk with a raw, metallic edge, coming across like Good Riddance and bands of a similar technical ilk. Starting out in 1997, the trio have released ‘The Fallen’ through Embers Records and I would certainly suggest checking it out.
There’s nothing particularly new about what the band are trying to do, but they do it with a passion and energy that is to be applauded. Plus they make a hell of a racket for a three-piece, as drums and guitars chaotically collide in the same way Strung Out would if they got involved in a wall of death with No Use For A Name. The band cite Thrice as an influence too and the riffs on ‘The Valley of Failures’ suggest that while it’s more skate punk and metal, fans of both could well be interetsed in this.
‘Today We Falter’ is breakneck with more of a groovesome guitar feel before the drums go through seven shades of shit, while ‘Embers’ and ‘Skyelabs’ showcase even more of their obvious talents. Over the course of six songs there’s enough to suggest potential and Last Collapse could well be ones to keep an eye on. All in all this was a welcome surprise. It’s music with balls and a sense of urgency that seems to have been lost in recent months, and if you’re looking for something a bit different during these cold Winter months, Last Collapse could well give you something to cheer you up.
www.lastcollapse.com
Embers Records
Paul