How often can you genuinely attribute the moniker of ‘next big thing’ or ‘modern classic’ to a band and mean it? I have found myself of guilty of these slight sins in the past but this time cross my heart and hope to die, Latterman have created a classic and are the next big thing. Infact, they are so fucking good it hurts. Sounding like Hot Water Music turned up to number 11 on the amp with the political ideals of Against Me!, in a years time it is these Long Island boys who will be mentioned in the same breath as some of their contemporaries with an angelic melodic hardcore sound that reaffirms faith in every lost ideal you may of once had about punk music. This is the best thing Deep Elm has ever done, it is simply that outstanding. And if you know about the consistently high quality of the label, then you can get to terms with how brilliant this album is.
With their raw, intense delivery and no nonsense attitude to playing, Latterman manage to create twelve tracks of pure wind spitting punk. From the moment ‘Doom! Doom! Doom!’ kicks in, everything you need to know about the style of music played is displayed in two and a half minutes which could just as well be used as an open CV for people to take them under there wing. The fuzzy jagged guitars help set the tone on follow up ‘Yo, Get Into It’, while lead vocalist Matt Cannino gets to show off his bass playing expertise on the storming ‘This Project is Stagnant’. Lyrically the band can’t be faulted to much, leaving you to your own derision’s of what the message is, but they could be screaming about the intricacies of modern physiology and you wouldn’t mind a great deal because it is all performed so ably.
A slight change of tack is employed on ‘Fear & Loathing on Long Island’ which is more assured musically than others with the verse‘s proving just as enigmatic as the chorus while ‘I Wish Branca was Here’ employs a horn to great effect on a captivating finish. With the songs blending into one another with ease, the half an hour breezes by and you are left cursing when the CD ends, especially as the awe inspiring ‘My Bedroom is like for artists’ ends it all in such a menacing fashion. The huge anthems are a joy to behold and if there is a better final album track to be heard this year, I have yet to hear it.
Having listened to this a ridiculous amount of times now, all is left is for the band to visit us in the UK as soon as possible. Latterman are made for the live scene and one can only imagine the images of them playing a packed out club with fists pumping and the truly momentous singalongs the band excel in being brought to hundreds of fans. It’s free of any pretentious aura which many bands inadvertently carry around and for the immediate future, no matter where they go, people will follow. A must have for summer, your CD collection and your conscience.
Jay
Deep Elm