Let me start this out by saying this EP has such a range I can't describe them and put it into one genre.
This EP starts out with a southern rock inspired tune, called "Ghosts in the Dust," which this minute long song, reminds me of a Waitian creepy country style on Mule Variations, almost like "Cold Water," then it transitions to a Come Find the Lion rock sound. "WD-40" is next, and it is not about the popular grease company if you are wondering, and it starts out with a few hooks and it has many throughout the song, but one of my favorites is "I smell your chemicals; your sugary perfume is drawing me to you," filled with sick guitar riffs, this song becomes addicting, and with many listens of this EP, this song is on my top for this album. The lead singer and the backing both sing and scream, but the screaming is only in moderation, and with having a talented singer they are using that talent for the better with singing. After a awesome guitar and drum duet, "Guns Don't Kill People, Mullets Do" is ignited, and then moves to a much harder song, and its a song that you can most definitely nod your head to because of the rapid, repetitive electric guitar that brings it all together, and with great lyrics as "it's only human to show you are in love" which shows these college aged musicians have potential to show. The next song begins with the band chanting for "Anything But Board Games", beginning with a statement that can pump up a and "Anyone can say what's going on here!", even though this band is mainly metal, this song brings their diverse influences into play, and those influences being Everytime I Die, and He Is Legend. If you are curious, I think that He Is Legend most closely resembles Come Find the Lion, yet they are so different, so there are no carbon-copies here. :) "Poor Man's Machete" is filled with many contradictions, it has a awesome minute guitar and drums introduction and then slows down to a "normal" rock-pop rhythm, but don't let that fool you, the guitars pick back up and some screaming ensues, and this song can't be generalized; if you tried, it'd be long. It's pop, southern rock, metal and many others. It definitely shows their wide range of influences, and all the member's talents, it is not just angst and anger as it is may be seen, but it can have messages too, as "It's a prediction I'm fixing/ to burn down all you've grown/I'm sleeping with my machete, I will reap what I have sown." Great lyric. This song also is a great song for a live gig, where people in the crowd can be involved by banging their head and being in the mosh pit. Also when the amps are turned down, the final words are remembered and you find yourself humming them later. "Still But Still Awake" proceeds, and is the most timid song on the recording, and it showcases the talent of their lead singer and the musicians, showing that they can play softer music, and still crank it up when need be. "Juan-Ted" brings back the metal influence that they started out with playing, as in their first released EP "The Road Through The Wall", where it is much louder, but in this record it is expressing their maturity since the last release. "Juan-Ted" has classic southern rock elements, and it is like listening to Skynyrd but harder, much harder, yet it has a punk ethos to it, with the battle cry that is "This is who I'll always be; this is what you made me!", and it has elements of Sex Pistols. Then as the final song starts to quietly play through the speakers, it emerges to be an acoustic style song, and the words "Through the trees, lights like cities splash across me/ A steady hum through my knees and this world has lost me./ Like a moth to a flame unaware it will cost me" play and this song is just amazing, but if your expecting jolly, delightful tunes- this is not it, but that's okay. I don't mind that, everything doesn't have to be happy to be great. This song is a beautiful, melodramatic, and is filled with simple and heartfelt words. It's hard to describe why I love it so much, you just have to hear it I guess...and the great title of this track is "When They Come For Us We'll Be Wearing Tin Foil Helmets," that's awesome in it's own right, but it has barely anything to do with the song. Just giving a fair warning. The song titles may seem a bit odd, seeing that they do not have to do much with what the song is actually about, but with me, who happens to love randomness... it's awesome. The creativity in the titles are fantastic, even though they have little to do with the songs they represent. And the EP ends, filled with a range of styles from these relatively young musicians and their diverse taste in music and their maturity as musicians is shown in this recording. The hooks will stay in your head, and the lyrics you will want to share makes this EP something worth sharing with anyone-- and they don't have to be metal heads to enjoy it. Come Find the Lion is a band that can inspire a wide audience, and with their unique sound they have a great future ahead of them. So if you want to help these guys and support some local music (even if it's not local to you), you can listen at myspace.com/comefindthelion. And you can buy the EP @ CDbaby.com and Digstation.com!!
He is truly talented and you can hear the passion in the music. I love that. The EP (extended play, which is shorter than 10 songs, but more than a single) starts out with a song called "Making Ends Meet," that is filled with heartfelt lyrics, such as "I've been cutting out all my friends in my life/With my scissors and my pocketknife." Filled with great hooks, and lyrics of content, it's a joy to listen to from this young artist. "This Could Be the Night" is a classic love song, and it describes the meeting of the girl and waiting for the perfect night. So romantic, it's nice to hear sweet songs instead of raunchy, it's much appreciated Zach. "Foolish" follows, and it is a song of unreturned love. Even though this being such a classic theme in rock, he does it with such a style all his own, and with an honesty that you can hear. The next song also follows that same theme, "Heavy Hearts", and with the guitar and lyric hooks it could easily be a single on this EP. I imagine hearing it on the radio in art class. Ok, one of my favorite songs is next, "Your Eyes Hit the Lights" proceeds and it reminds me why I love those sweet songs that just make you smile. The clapping in the background, and the phrases girls wish to hear just make this amazing. I also think of my favorite songs from Paolo Nutini, "Loving You" and "Alloway Grove", and Sondre Lerche "Words and Music." Love it, that's all I can say. Girls, you will put this song on repeat. Guaranteed. My personal favorite song, which I told Zach is "Revenge," probably because I understand the feeling of every word in the lyrics. The song is about being in a small town, where you know what you want to do, yet the small town is holding you back and how your okay with being independent because you know your going to be stronger in the end. I love this song. It relates to me, and that's why I love music. Music is that connection to other people through the sounds, words and emotions. I love that song. Love it. It's nice to know someone around my age who understands. After the scratching of the CD starts as the last song begins to play, it almost fades out the melodies I just heard as it is a quieter song, "No One Will Catch You" which seems like it's just him and his guitar. Beautiful. It is a moving on song. And a touching one at that, the imagery of his words are fantastic and it's like I'm seeing a short movie of emotions. All around this EP is something worth listening to, and you won't regret that you did. :)
