Reviews

The Veins of Everyone

Gyre

Released: Jun 27, 2007
Label: DIY
Reviewed by: William Jones
10 comments

Let's get this out of the way, right away. I used to read/write for Punknews.org, and once the site started its own label, its boisterous readership was quick to yell "phooey!" at a positive review of Ryan's Hope's sophomore album, Apocalypse in Increments, that appeared on that website. I understand the skepticism, but the album was an original take on a mix of great punk rock sounds, and regardless of where the review appeared, it deserved its honest praise.

Ian Lashbrook is the current editor of this recently redesigned site, Punkbands.com. He also sings and...guitars...in a Chicago-based band called Gyre, and they have a nifty, new, self-released EP. It was passed on to Your Humble Narrator to write an unbiased review of it for the website. No problem. I'm admittedly not the biggest fan of music placed under the post-hardcore umbrella (which, in the broadest generalization, I would say Gyre falls under), and my first inclination is to make fun of Ian - because he's generally an easy target, and kind of smelly - on the very site he edits. So, no worries of favoritism here, my faithful readers. Let's rock.

The EP opens with a quote from "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" by Mr. William Butler Yeats. Literary connection? Check. It's interrupted by snare drum, and then builds - one guitar, two, bass line - and then breaks away into a heavy guitar riff that reeks of 90s alt rock. This gives way to a fast beat and vocals, accompanied by a soft female voice, before getting to the call-and-repeat clean/scream chorus. The two vocal styles have been mixed relentlessly in screamo, but still, Gyre executes it well and finds a great balance between the two sounds. Titled "Dental Records," the layered track is a perfect way to kick the EP into gear.

It's followed by "Clear the Mechanism" - another fast, extended instrumental intro and then vocals that are somewhere between a screech and growl, interlaced with some very Pearl Jam-esque phrases. Again, a great balance is found, and the track is rounded out with some heavy screaming.

"Whoreses and Cooks," on its own, is another solid song for the band, but following "Clear the Mechanism" on the EP, it somehow feels like more of the same. "Brave Sir Robin" is the 7:42 power ballad epic of the effort, and trudges along a bit slowly, but Adriene Gregg, who provides the female vocals on the opening track, helps to spice this one up with her moody violin.

The Veins of Everyone closes with "If Atlas had been from the East Coast." Lashbrook delivers an extremely interesting vocal performance here that is reminiscent of early System of a Down. The problem is that it's so different from anything that has come before it that it seems a bit odd as the EP's closer. On this track, and the rest, production is also a bit of an issue. Obviously, when it's self-produced, a record isn't going to sound like a million bucks, but there seems to be many points where the wrong sounds are brought out over others, and while the vocalists on the record deliver strong performances, the production makes them sound shallow. In most cases, the band could have benefited from a cleaner sound, better mastering.

While it's got a few noticeable flaws, it's a respectable effort for Gyre. They tread a lot of the same ground as their peers, but try just enough new and interesting things to make The Veins of Everyone worthwhile.

Note: Due to a number of reasons, including Ian's upcoming move, the band recently decided to call it quits, and played a farewell show in Chicago. I wish them all the best, and I'll be looking forward to any projects from those that decide to stay musically active.