Brass – Look On The Bright Side EP

Brass are putting forth an EP via Early Onset Records called Look On The Bright Side. You’ve got to be one positive-ass mother fucker to put out an EP with that title these days. I’ve heard good things about Brass, however I never actually heard them. So Look On The Bright Side will be a great jumping off point. Brass are from East Vancouver. All I know about Vancouver is that there are supposedly a lot of drugs and my favorite TV show Resident Alien is filmed there. I would imagine East Vancouver would be the “poorer” sections of Vancouver. Usually the closer to the coast you get the more expensive it gets. From the looks of these guys, I would bet they could get me the good kush if I ever make it to the V (They probably don’t call Vancouver the V).

First off, honestly I thought this 5-piece band named Brass would contain a horn section or at least a single horn. But it’s obvious from the first few bars of the first track, Bad Neighbours, no horns will be present here. Brass has more to do with balls than bassoons and trombones. Loud and bombastic go the drums in this song. Forget groove this is pure pummel. Which is fitting for a song that rages against my good ole’ U.S.A. Are Canadians a little exasperated with the gall expelled by the United States? Yes, and they should be. With remorse I find these lyrics energized if not accurate. #repost. #iknowright. #sosorry. Let me lower my head in shame as we just move on. After one song, this band sort of reminds me of the legendary and tragically defunct South Florida band, Load. 

Track 2, Who’s Counting, the drums have that rolling on the floor toms rumble through the verses and then explode with cymbals during the chorus. Exceptional color put on display by drummer, Rory Troughton. Drummers that play with these unique styles usually are kinda crazy and touched in the head, but in cool way. I wonder if his band mates will concur. The twin guitar attack of Zach Mouallem & Tristan Milne go into a noise-trance-punk-Crass thing. Everything’s falling apart. It’s hard to describe a song like this. It just must me experienced. And experience this song you must! Singer, Devon Motz, is losing his mind. He may have drank too much Philipponnat Royale Reserve. But yes! This guy gets it. After two songs I am now sort of loving this band. Has another band found that Black Flagish, Load, style that is so rare, or rarely done right!

Track 3, Winning Hand is a complete musical and lyrical paradox. It starts with intense low-down and dirty bass guitar line grooving courtesy of Kennedy Pawluk. It is a totally classic bass line that prepares you to get ready to fucking rock. The chorus is part Fugazi part Suicidal Tendencies and this swerve to a different musical style is spectacular. Octave chord use with amazing feel: check.The second verse dispelled by Devon, is just plain catchy AF. He is officially a bad ass dude in my book now. The cadence and stop on a dime vocals absolutely kill. How can a song with content about white privilege(?) be so groovy and rock’n roll cool punk at once. Yet it is achieved here in the form of pogo-worthy musical genius. Some crazy guitar panning lifts us into a chaotic blissful ending. Brilliant!

Track 4 is the penultimate Milestone. This song takes on an emo-feel. It’s very northwest meets Squirrel Bait (massively influential 80’s Louisville Kentucky band Kurt Cobain cited). This is the type of song written in times of emotional upheaval while it’s raining outside for ninety days straight. The lyrics are introspective and reflective. Best interpreted Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) style; individually and uniquely by the listener. Brass over the last two tracks has proved to be diverse and surprising in musical styles. This band is no one-trick pony.

The final track of this pretty epic EP is Parkour Saved My Life. This track features singer Devon, hitting an almost metal-core level of aggression in his vocal style. He doesn’t need a volume of lyrics to express his points. The twin guitar attack of Tristan and Zach goes into a heavy crunchy galloping rhythm. We go from a pogo pit to a full on mosh pit with this hardcore track. Again Brass has thrown me for an unexpected musical loop. This track totally gets your mosh on. Is there some flange going on with the guitars for a moment? Crazy guitar solos: check. Double kick drum riffing from Rory shows us the exit door from this house of heaviness.

Look on the Bright Side definitely makes me want to check out this bands previous two albums, For Everyone & No Soap Radio. They have great song writing abilities and you never know what you will get track to track. They assuredly must be an intense live band. Brass could easily become an internationally loved and touring band. They’ve gained a huge fan here, I want the patch. Let’s just hope they can keep making it out of their drug induced economically challenged and violent hood they are from in east Vancouver! (JK, I have no idea how they be living). In conclusion: the recording and sound of this EP Look on the Bright Side is dark and soaked in the emotion of the Pacific Northwest. This record is a real auditory glimpse into what it would be like to live in a place far from Georgia in geography and mindset. And like the falling leaves of October, I loved every note and sound of it. 

Look On The Bright Side is now available via Bandcamp and will be released on all major platforms on October 21st via Early Onset Records. Support this band so they can make it to your town soon