Snag : " All The Cages Holding Us Will One Day Turn To Dust"

It's been made clear over the years that one of my favorite bands from the late 90s is Planesmistakenforstars, and this trio follows a similar emotional path that might be a little more married to punk than the misery Planes brough later in their careers. Depending on what moment you are at on any given song, the notable influences might also include Hot Water Music and the Get Up Kids. They don't get into anything explosive enough to be hardcore adjacent until "Foam Cup pt3". They also touch on this kind of energy with 'Sunburn".  Even in the compact arrangement written they cram a great deal of dynamics into it. 

The beginning experimenting in a manner more Cursive on "Paris , WI" which is all emotion with the piano and trumpet replacing the instrumentation of punk. It almsot feels more like an interlude, but reminds you of a time when bands experimented more. "Unarrest Me" has a more Fugazi-like bass line. When everything kicks in, it's more frantic and chaotic but highly effective.  The vocals are howled with more tension as it's about having a run-in with the cops. "Debilitated" works off a burly bass line but is the least hooky and most confrontational song thus far. 

They return to their more adventurous melodic side with "Juneberry." which brings Bright Eyes to mind, as it crosses over into indie rock. The guitar takes on a country twang at the outskirts of the song. They toss aside all restraint fwhen they lunge into "Cages," though they shift the dynamics after the initial temper tantrum. You can hear how a band like Converge would have come from this scne.  Despite the last song 'Pray for Peace' unleashed a more feral vocal performance and a great deal of drive, it is very deliberate and never finds its feet, flying out from under it. Even the blast beats work in the dynamic spectrum of where they have taken you. . I will give this a 9.5, as it's almost perfect in how it takes you back to the late 90s but retains it's identity through experimentationDrops on Death Wish Inc. 

pst285