Soaring high range vocals? Check. Deep guttural banshee screams? Check. Snappy, witty lyrics? Double check. Composed of Lil Lotus, Lil Zubin, Nedarb, Cayle and Rake from Ghostemane and From First To Last legend Travis Richter, If I Die First are the latest band to come out of the LA scene and have caused quite a surge of interest. The super group delves deep into the classic post-hardcore/screamo sound for this latest single "Where Needles and Lovers Collide" that sounds like it blasted out of a time capsule from the early 2000’s. The band name is also a reference to the band's long time friend Chynna Rogers and is a beautiful ode to her memory.

A mastery of vibrant, rich vocals welcome us as the song kicks into overdrive - you could have sworn this was the latest release from a reunited A Skylit Drive with Jordan Blake off the She Watched The Sky EP. At times, Lil Lotus' high pitch wails are reminiscent of Broadway on their Kingdoms album, but while the bands flavor is rich in old school vibes, the band is definitely carving out their own niche with a polished sound that screams maturity for their first release.

The song's quality is crisp and clear; the band themselves having a hand in the production. Nedarb showcases his talent on the guitar, providing a sea of sick riffs that could resurrect MySpace, bassist Rake fills his role to perfection, creating a thick aura of resonance that can't go unnoticed, and drummer Cayle is a master of transitions, laying down a strong backbone throughout the track. Lil Zubin provides keys that tie the track together, as well as backing vocals with Richter. Lil Lotus flourishes in the vocal department, shocking those familiar with their usual style, while the lyrical content still tugs on those heart strings. Travis Richter is an anchor, his cutting screams ripping through the mix whenever they show their visage, acting as a gateway to those long time fans from either FFTL Dear Diary days or The Human Abstract's Digital Veil or even those that recognize him from The Color of Violence Youthanize phase. Travis Richter himself shined light on the fact he handled a lot of the harmonies/mixing/mastering and drum writing/programming on this first single.

Overall, this single is a welcomed modern take on a classic sound, with superb production quality. With the promise of an EP on July 10th, it won’t be long before getting more material from this band!