REVIEW: If I Die First 'My Poison Arms"
If I Die First is a band you've probably heard about by now, and if you haven't and your interest lie in that vintage early '00s post hardcore/screamo sound, then you are in for a treat. My Poison Arms EP brings together possibly one of the most unorthodox supergroups to be found in the scene when you consider what the line up is comprised of. With SoundCloud emo rappers, Travis Richter of From First To Last/The Human Abstract fame, and Ghostemane's backing band, you'd honestly probably expect a much different sound before delving into this release.
Lil Lotus, Zubin, Nedarb, Rake and Cayle all hail from a different background, yet sound-wise it is very reminiscent of Travis Richter's Dear Diary-era FFTL if it had a baby with post-hardcore throwbacks: A Skylit Drive from their She Watched The Sky EP phase with a dash of Broadway's Kingdoms. Crazy right? Let's dive into the EP and see what awaits.
Right out the gate, the band hits us with the heaviest track found on the six-song EP, "No Serenity," coming off like an old school hardcore song with a near-minute breakdown as an overlay of harsh vocals hit our ears in a frenzied blitz. The track doesn't stay around long, but it delivers a debilitating gut punch to kickstart this passion-fueled ride of an EP.
Following up with the lead single "When Needles and Lovers Collide," the title feels like a reference to age-old Anberlin lyrics from "Godspeed" that goes "When needles and lovers collapse on guilty beds," though it could just be a coincidence. Either way, it's a sick reminder to the engaged who remember obscure stuff like that. The track itself is a bright, upbeat number that drives the energy to an all-time high giving the listeners a taste of what's to follow.
"Is It Me Or Your Secrets That Keep You Up At Night" anchors the middle of the album with a blended fare of soaring vocals and shows a deeper dimension to the band’s writing style, coming in with a high croon. There's a riff in this track that gives off "Note To Self" vibes given the band’s sound. It could be seen as an ode to From First To Lasst and their influence on the band’s sound that screams it doesn't mind being trapped behind the skinny jeans of 2004.
The track closes out with a powerful breakdown that is followed by a haunting warbling high pitch voice that sears straight into your mind. It's a nice way to close the track in a similar albeit different way than how it opened. Nedarb deserves credit for creating a nice collection of lead riffs that drive the EP’s high octane vibe that's felt throughout.
The next track "Burying A Parent" has to be my personal favorite from the album bringing the band's lyricism to their full potential. The sweeping high vocals as they beckon "9-1-1 I need you here right now" cuts through the mix and gives the album its larger than life moment when you realize that this band has nothing but making this track an absolute banger. I'd say this track goes out of its way to display the full range of vocal abilities as they hit higher ranges and in the bridge, a calm, somber, dulcet melody that really makes the song pop to another level.
"Six Foot Dug Out Holes" is a different kind of track, standing on its own as a radically different delivery of vocals. While I don't know if it's a style choice or the mix needing a little more boost in the vocals, to me, it feels like the cleans are delivered in a fast, inarticulate pace and don't sit as high in the sound as the previous tracks. The group vocals are a nice touch to the track, giving it its own identity between the other songs in this EP. Instrumentally, it’s a fresh change of pace from the up-tempo 1-2 punk charge found throughout the EP.
To close us out there is an acoustic track to fully flesh the album out with a progressive dip into nearly all facets of post hardcore/emo tropes we've all grown accustomed to growing up in the scene. The acoustic guitars provide a radiant cool warmth as the vocalists trade from sad whispers to shrieks of sorrow to a Sgt. Peppers Beatles/Anthony Green hybrid-level bridge. It's a diverse track that's pulled together by the piano beneath all the downtrodden lyrics.
Zubin and Lil Lotus have an interesting vocal dynamic for sure on this record, with an all-hands-on-deck mentality. You've got Travis and Nedarb providing harmonies that make you curious how this would sound in a live setting. My Poison Arms is possibly one of the strongest debuts from a band this year that's catching fire quickly and deservedly so. It's worth a check out if you're looking for a band with old school high pitched singers mixed with gnarly varieties of frantic fry to gutturally low screams.