An Ex-Life Worth Living

Epitaph Records released Every Time I Die's Ex-Lives on Mar. 6^th, 2012; the band's 6^th since being founded by brothers Keith and Jordan Buckley in Buffalo, NY in 1998.  The band is well known for melding the hardcore attitude seen in bands like Verse and Integrity with the technical cacophonies of Converge or The Dillinger Escape Plan, two mathcore favorites.  This breeding of these two ascetically different genres has given the band a unique sound, and has generated a dedicated fan base. Ex-Lives does not disappoint, especially to those who dislike the "softer" side of Every Time I Die.

Not only does the record have 11 fist-pumping tracks, but the deluxe edition has three bonus tracks. Every Time I Die kick off their new release with the comically named, "Underwater Bimbos from Outer Space." The song begins with Keith Buckley sporting some Rage Againt the Machine-esque distorted vocals and the dissidence of the instruments create the energy behind Keith's hook, "I want to be dead with my friends!" The album follows suit with "Holy Book of Dilemma," a more politically oriented ditty that seems to raise questions of morality and the juxtaposition between societal progress and social decay.  "A Wild, Shameless Plain" chooses a form more familiar with the band's hardcore roots: simplistic and straightforward, yet driving beats that'll keep your feet stomping and your fist flying.  This is interesting, as the next song, "Typical Miracle", is a prime example of a mathcore-oriented song.  The riff Jordan Buckley opens the song with is reminiscent of the post-punk revival style, which puts heavy emphasis on dissident chords.  "I Suck (Blood)" definitely does not, you know, suck.  Again, the band chooses to but emphasis on a rootsy style, this time southern metal.  Guitarists Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams do a superb job harmonizing licks and bombarding us with that machine-gun "chug" that is so well known in the metal genre.  Keith Buckley keeps up the southern feel, and brings us back to a more familiar ETID theme: partying (on "Partying is Such Sweet Sorrow"). 

Most of the other tracks provide exactly what you'd expect from Every Time I Die: a lot of thrashing, breakdowns sprinkled throughout as to built birr, then a reprise of thrashing as you collapse to the sound of amp feedback and then silence. A real "sore thumb" of this album comes in at track eight, on the song "Revival Mode."  Although this song really debuts the talents and range of both Keith and brother Jordan, the song is very much unlike the rest of the album with its meandering pace and depressing mood. The bonus tracks are nothing out of the ordinary like "Revival Mode" is, although track 13, "Business Casualty" did begin with an eerie bass intro similar to that of the crust/grindcore scene.  This song also has a semi-unique characteristic of Keith melding melodic lyrics with a technical and head-banging energy created by the rest of the band.

This album is a definite must for fans of the genre.  It's good to see Every Time I Die hasn't changed too much since their debut, yet the changes they've made (by adding more driving and anthem-like songs to the harmonious mix) are indeed steps in the right direction.