Lowtalker – People Worry About Everything

Put together members of metalcore maniacs Misery Signals and hardcore screamers Comeback Kid and you get, Lowtalker.  Resembling nothing of their lineage, the four-piece comes together for a remarkably solid take on gruff, technically sound punk.  Heavy on melody without sugar coating every note, this sing-along, riot-inducing call to arms should find welcome reception from any fans of spruced up, ever-steady 90’s punk rock with a modern edge.  Think of a cleaner, faster fingered version of No Idea Records artists like Young Livers and you’ll know what to expect.

Generally, Lowtalker is at its best when maintaining a mean tempo and belting out line after line of pressing expectations.  When “Eulogy” opens their debut EP, People Worry About Everything, the sub-two minute track makes for an eye opening first impression.  Kicking off with a succinct drum burst, the band wastes no time, launching into a simple but effective blanket of riffs, acting as a pressing backdrop to their accompanying call to action.  “On the glass right in front of me/break in case of emergency” shouts Matt Keil, to which he states the obvious “this is a fucking emergency” as he wraps up what plays out as an emotional two-minute introspective exploring the mindset of those forced into grief at a young age.

From here Lowtalker demonstrates a commitment to solidifying these core fundamentals.  The remaining five tracks ebb and flow with minor tweaks (like “Near Disaster’s” ode to steadfast skate punk drummers, and “That’s How It Start’s” metallic showcase of a guitar solo being the most notable departures), but largely follow “Eulogy’s” initial lead.  “Turncoat,” with its stadium flooding gang vocals, deserves special mention though, as its scope will surely serve as a selling point for those with a hunger for big, anthemic verses and lead-outs.

As someone who has never been crazy for Comeback Kid, and who hasn’t been particularly impressed by Misery Signals, I’ve taken quite fondly to Lowtalker’s debut.  Considering the project’s divergence from their members’ parent groups, it’s not really surprising that People Worry About Everything is as refreshing and energetic as it is.  It’s also relieving to know that members of reputable, established bands are still challenging themselves and taking risks.  So I say hats off to these ambitious gentlemen, and here’s to hoping that they put the same level of care into Lowtalker’s future projects.