REVIEW: Lakeshore – 41 (EP)

Lakeshore are a band that are clearly not quite content with sitting within the confines of one genre. With their self-released debut, 41, the band channel elements of nu-metal, modern metalcore and a few other unexpected things along the way.

The EP opens with Heart (To The Fans) which is a brooding introduction of unsettling sounds, muffled vocals and almost tribal drumming. As the track builds, you’re introduced to some nostalgic, early 2000’s nu-metal crunch and a huge chorus with crisp clean vocals and distant screaming in the background.

Future‘follows with a change of pace. Acoustic led verses shimmer and it shows the bands softer side but it still has a bouncy chorus and has the band proclaiming ‘Hear our cries / You try to keep us down but we survive‘ and ‘We are the future‘, which is certainly a bold statement.

Taking… is a piano led interlude that leads perfectly into Control which brings the pace back up. It has spiky lead lines reminiscent of the likes of Saosin and chunky slabs of distortion alongside the ever present crystal clear vocals of frontman, Shawn Adams.

While 41 never really gets super heavy, Kings (The Reawakening) ramps it up a notch. It’s the band at their most pacey and relentless as it rattles along with constant chugging but it’s still soaked in melody. Lakeshore seem to be a band more concerned with piercing, complimentary lead guitars, vocal hooks and creating atmospheres than all out heaviness.

Perhaps the most unique element of this EP is the constant nods to fairy tales. You have an interlude made of up samples from The Wizard Of Oz and the closing track, Pure Imagination has Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory quotes and samples all over it.

Musically, Lakeshore aren’t pushing boundaries here but they blend genres and ideas that is at least an attempt to create something different in a somewhat tired genre. As the bands first statement of intent, 41 isn’t a bad opening gambit.