Ivadell – Flow

The mention of Columbia, SC’s Ivadell won’t likely mean all that much to the casual observer.  The post-hardcore outfit plays a hazy brand of slow moving, guitar-dominated songs that trickle in rather than announce their presence right out of the gate.  When it comes to their debut Broken Circles EP, Flow, some might dismiss the quintet’s relatively passive startup, only to find themselves deeply engrossed by the time this trio of tunes surreptitiously invades listeners’ consciousness.

Opening lightly with “For Love Of Will,” the band thickly strums along in a weighted startup balanced by the earnest twinkle of individually discernible chords.  Riffs crunch slowly as they lay down a repetitious backdrop that comes to dominate the track’s later moments.  There’s a dark grungy overtone (think Quicksand) that might have become more prominent if vocalist Josh Gilley’s vaguely falsetto style didn’t glisten  of more contemporary acts like Balance & Composure.  For an opener, the track plays it safe, opting for a more neutral stance – a risky play considering the EP’s brief length.  After a subdued beginning, “Breaking Light” begins to evolve into something closer resembling post-punk bands like Brand New and Manchester Orchestra.  Falling in line with the genre’s quiet-verse and heavy-chorus mentality, Ivadell quickly alters the mood from the opener’s easy going demeanor to an eventful and atmospheric expedition.  

The final of the three tracks, “Flickering,” finds the band further expanding their creative pallet.  The tune twinkles and crunches simultaneously in a way that positively resembles Nai Harvest, but without the associated lethargy.  It might take three tracks before the Ivadell reveals its master plan, but once the band pulls back the curtain listeners will find themselves coexisting comfortably alongside the EP’s final moments.  

Flow isn’t a terribly rivetting EP, but what it lacks in direct impact it teases in future potential.  For three relatively similar tracks, each highlights Ivadell’s various influences and binds these various vectors of sound together into a brief coherent statement.  With the band already working on their full length follow up during Flow’s release window, the unassuming five-piece stands to make a big mark as they expand from their current talents.