Monday 11 April 2016

Lower Automation - "Maps" EP (Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: EP
Date Released: 01/04/2016
Label: Independent


“Ring” kicks off with the sound of the Jesus Lizard being attacked by a malfunctioning robot. The middle section of “Decorated” sees the band crunch slowly to the edge of the abyss, as screeching psychedelic guitars wail into the ether, bringing to mind Cave In at their cosmic peak. “Scissor Lapses” ends the EP in style, a killer track that devolves into 3 minutes of searing, pedal abuse that leaves you wanting to listen to the whole thing again before the ringing in your ears dies down.

“Maps” CD//DD track listing

1).Ring
2). Decorated
3). Break Room Curators
4). The Cartographer
5). Scissor Lapses

The Review:

The promise of new music from At The Drive In in 2016 has been met with feverish anticipation. Should the studio return of the El Paso-based post-hardcore heavyweights result in crushing disappointment, fans can console themselves with the new EP from Chicago’s Lower Automation.
Maps” marks the trio’s debut, with just over fifteen minutes of exhilarating punk-rock mayhem. The band take the angular guitars, impassioned vocals and melodic flourishes of “Relationship of Command” and crank them up to breakneck speed. This is no slavish tribute though, Lower Automation inject plenty of their own character into the mix as well as drawing on other influences to keep things interesting.
Ring” kicks off with the sound of the Jesus Lizard being attacked by a malfunctioning robot before the band settle into their familiar rhythm. The middle section of “Decorated” sees the band crunch slowly to the edge of the abyss, as screeching psychedelic guitars wail into the ether, bringing to mind Cave In at their cosmic peak. “Scissor Lapses” ends the EP in style, a killer track that devolves into 3 minutes of searing, pedal abuse that leaves you wanting to listen to the whole thing again before the ringing in your ears dies down.
Maps” is an addictive blast of joyous noise that doesn’t put a foot wrong during its short duration.  There are enough hints here that Lower Automation has plenty of ideas up their sleeve to explore when they come to making a full-length too.
Maps” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook