“The melody so fast of the pain and rhythm of my past.“
Across their string of records, it’s evident that Life’s Question have looked to build on and expand their their sound with each release. The EPs of their earlier work, including standout track “Cracks in the Floor of Heaven“, lead them to piece together debut full-length World Full Of… in 2022. Taking the New York hardcore sound as their foundation, adding in metallic and classic riffs, all with impressive vocal work, it pencilled in Life’s Question firmly as an act of note stateside. Now signed to Flatspot Records, the Chicago unit dropped “When I Meet God” and announced the next entry in an already impressive discography, in the form of a self-titled EP which more than sees Life’s Question live up to their self-declared title of being the “real deal“.
Imparting their impressive and electric guitar work early on with “Light Me Up“, gritty and whirling riffs abound taht wouldn’t be amiss from rock and metal bands in the late 80s and across the 90s. Boisterous and distinct vocals from Haynes once again give Life’s Questions their punch, as demonstrated on following track “I Can Still Hear My Mama Pray“, where their grit and bark fully comes comes to the fore to make their presence known. Most notably on this track, and while it might seem somewhat out of left-field, there are moments where it feels reminiscent of early Defeater.
It’s also on “I Can Still Hear My Mama Pray” where Life’s Question begin to show their penchant for writing a grand vocal hook, with “Time for me to kill, kill me, time for me to die, die to myself” being the first of many that will see folk front of stage to scream back at Haynes. This continues on “Brass Coffin” and “When I Meet God“; the former sees guitar Ridge Rhine delivering “The faster I move the less I try, always chasin when you get this, you get this high” with the swagger rock bands of past decades. The record’s lead single weaves itself between declarations of “Wake up you’re already dead” and the harmonious vocals of Abby Rhine lamenting “When I meet God I hope he understands, Why I did anything to pass the time. A pleasing contrast is found between the vocals of Josh Haynes and Ridge Rhine, while another vocal hook is cemented into the mind mind that will have listeners singing to themselves even once the runtime of the self-titled has passed.
Shifting back into full-force on “10 Years“, Life’s Question indulge in their hardcore roots with a pit inducing breakdown, stomping rudiments, and vocals that are up for a fight. It’s worth noting here too, and on the tracks before, the tightening up of the production allows the guitar work and vocal blends to shine. While it’s a move away from the muddier mixes of past, it allows the riffs to be higher up and the vocals more definitive, allowing them to be fully appreciated.
Closing out the self-titled EP comes “Something Out There” which sees further extended vocals from Abby Rhine, once again delivering the hook “Get out of your head, get out of your mind” in grand fashion. Here is where the internal strife that much of Life Question’s work and on S/T comes to the forefront, with lone verse laying its cards on the table:
“Now you find out how life could be so pointless, you choke on the air.
Suffocate yourself with anything
You can find to distract you
Your the one who makes you insane
Mania from the choices you make
Lifetime of sins piled up
Eat of the crumbs
You’re scared of yourself“
It’s difficult not to be impressed by what Life’s Question have crafted here. Many of the aforementioned hooks are some of the catchiest of the year so far, and will take some topping. The variety within the delivery and sound present, whether it be vocally or the blend of metal influences with NYC hardcore, has enough to keep the ear busy for a while. This comes alongside the astute lyricism that Life’s Questions have become known for. If this latest iteration is what will we will see more of from them in the future, Life’s Question should catch the ear of a much wider audience and build up a standout discography.
8.5/10
Life’s Question’s self-titled EP is out April 12th and can be pre-ordered here.