East Island City
We were recently put on to East Island City and their album, Me And What Army, to find out what we thought about it. Having been formed in 2010 in Dublin, the 5 piece band have already achieved acclaim from the likes of Glamour Kills, endorsement from Blackstar Amps and achieved supporting slots with the likes of Framing Hanley, Twin Atlantic and My Passion. Having just recorded their mini album, Me And What Army, I figured this was the perfect time to get out and check out what was going on!
The intro track of Feels Like Home To Me suggests a soft and soothing album to follow, opening with acoustic guitars and a soothing voice, the mix making you relax and sit back, simply allowing the music to flow over you and take you in. This all changes with the move into No Tomorrow though, launching you into a Biffy Clyro style riff fuelled melee of restrained power. The sound here harks firmly towards the Irish music scene, crafting a track which is not only powerful and hard hitting, but also well formed and catchy throughout. The chorus is key here, and will have you singing along after a couple of listens whether you’re ready for it or not. Powerful, melodic and all out solid from start to finish, this track may well mark an abrupt change but it’s a good change!
Title track Me And What Army follows on, once again launching you into a post-punk style mix of guitars and hammering drums. Forget sitting back and relaxing, this is the sort of track you dream of seeing on the live scene, containing enough melody to keep things accessible and moving, yet enough power to get everyone involved and chanting along with the band. Catchy once again, this is one which is going to have audiences singing along, hearts being broken and a damned good time being had by all who witness it. The Borderline ushers in another change on the album, this time adopting a near theatrical approach as the track grows around you, forming a sound which is not only catchy and powerful, but this time hard hitting and deep. Roving between the hard and soft sound throughout, this track marks another demonstration of their ability on the part of the band, forming a track which not only causes an emotional change, but makes you consider why you’re feeling that, why the music is having that effect on you – but all the time knowing that whatever the reasons, it’s all good.
You Are The Light is far simpler track, this time launching you into a melee of guitars, drums and a solid rumbling bass line. The mix here creates a sound which accentuates the bass whilst the rest of the music returns to the more BC style of music, crafting a track which is once again built for the live scene. The catchiness once again flows out of the speakers here, getting you singing along after a couple of listens. Bonus track Nobody’s Gonna Miss Us seems to mark yet another change on the alum, this time adopting the punkier side of music but enhancing it with more power and different levels of vocals. The contrasting male and female vocals work well to further enhance the track here, forming something which you just want to listen to, it’s that simple. There’s nothing here which needs to be picked apart, just the simple knowledge that this is another highpoint on the album, and a moment which I advise you to make sure you check out!
East Island City are one of those bands you come across from time to time that renew your taste for music you used to listen to, somehow reigniting a fire within you that burns for a genre which has since been lost. At times, the music is powerful and hard hitting, at other times soft and soothing, the whole time keeping melody the key in their mix. If you’re looking for death metal then this isn’t going to be for you, but if you’re looking for a band who can play their instruments and craft music which is going to pull you in and keep you listening from start to finish, give them a go – you won’t be disappointed.
To find out more about East Island City, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
The intro track of Feels Like Home To Me suggests a soft and soothing album to follow, opening with acoustic guitars and a soothing voice, the mix making you relax and sit back, simply allowing the music to flow over you and take you in. This all changes with the move into No Tomorrow though, launching you into a Biffy Clyro style riff fuelled melee of restrained power. The sound here harks firmly towards the Irish music scene, crafting a track which is not only powerful and hard hitting, but also well formed and catchy throughout. The chorus is key here, and will have you singing along after a couple of listens whether you’re ready for it or not. Powerful, melodic and all out solid from start to finish, this track may well mark an abrupt change but it’s a good change!
Title track Me And What Army follows on, once again launching you into a post-punk style mix of guitars and hammering drums. Forget sitting back and relaxing, this is the sort of track you dream of seeing on the live scene, containing enough melody to keep things accessible and moving, yet enough power to get everyone involved and chanting along with the band. Catchy once again, this is one which is going to have audiences singing along, hearts being broken and a damned good time being had by all who witness it. The Borderline ushers in another change on the album, this time adopting a near theatrical approach as the track grows around you, forming a sound which is not only catchy and powerful, but this time hard hitting and deep. Roving between the hard and soft sound throughout, this track marks another demonstration of their ability on the part of the band, forming a track which not only causes an emotional change, but makes you consider why you’re feeling that, why the music is having that effect on you – but all the time knowing that whatever the reasons, it’s all good.
You Are The Light is far simpler track, this time launching you into a melee of guitars, drums and a solid rumbling bass line. The mix here creates a sound which accentuates the bass whilst the rest of the music returns to the more BC style of music, crafting a track which is once again built for the live scene. The catchiness once again flows out of the speakers here, getting you singing along after a couple of listens. Bonus track Nobody’s Gonna Miss Us seems to mark yet another change on the alum, this time adopting the punkier side of music but enhancing it with more power and different levels of vocals. The contrasting male and female vocals work well to further enhance the track here, forming something which you just want to listen to, it’s that simple. There’s nothing here which needs to be picked apart, just the simple knowledge that this is another highpoint on the album, and a moment which I advise you to make sure you check out!
East Island City are one of those bands you come across from time to time that renew your taste for music you used to listen to, somehow reigniting a fire within you that burns for a genre which has since been lost. At times, the music is powerful and hard hitting, at other times soft and soothing, the whole time keeping melody the key in their mix. If you’re looking for death metal then this isn’t going to be for you, but if you’re looking for a band who can play their instruments and craft music which is going to pull you in and keep you listening from start to finish, give them a go – you won’t be disappointed.
To find out more about East Island City, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls