Lesser Key

Lesser Key EP

Written by: MBC on 01/08/2014 15:07:50

If anyone needed any more proof that Sumerian Records has one of the best and most diverse rosters in modern hard rock and metal, here is another incredible release from the label. Featuring founding bass player for Tool, Paul D’Amour, alt. hard rock band Lesser Key released its debut self-titled EP earlier this year. D’Amour’s previous work with Tool can clearly be heard as an influence in the band’s song writing, and this EP should be a no-brainer for fans of Tool and A Perfect Circle as well as other great alternative rock/metal acts such as Deftones and 10 Years.

The EP consists of six tracks, including a final track in “Labile” which is ambient and instrumental. All the songs are excellent and contain memorable elements, whether it be great vocal melodies or D’Amour’s characteristic slow and heavy bass lines. The EP contains no filler material, even the final ambient track, with its soothing, atmospheric style, works really well and fits as an album closer for the five preceding songs. Resemblances to the aforementioned bands can be heard in Lesser Key’s songs, but the band only uses these inspirations as a foundation of style to create their own brand of emotional, melancholic hard rock rather than copying them.

The EP opens with “Intercession” and right off the bat you hear the inspiration from Tool. D’Amour’s slow and heavy, yet groovy bass opens the track resembling his work on “Undertow”. About fifty seconds in, the melancholic, yet powerful vocals of Andrew Zamudio are introduced. He sounds somewhat like a cross between Maynard James Keenan (Tool/A Perfect Circle), Chino Moreno (Deftones) and Jesse Hasek (10 Years) without ever sounding like a cover artist or replicate. He switches between singing softly and opening up with big choruses as well as balancing the fine line of singing clean notes and phrasing vocal lines without ever overdoing it or sounding annoying. There is absolutely no screaming or strained, bellowed vocals on this EP, only strong and emotional, high level melodic singing.

There are plenty of highlights on the EP such as the A Perfect Circle-esque melancholic guitars on “In Passing Through”, the heavy guitar riffs of “Pale Horse” with Zamudio’s vocals soaring above or the incredible chorus of “Folding Stairs” in which he sings: “Say something please, I keep on walking on these silent streets, follow me please and tell me everything isn't always what it seems”.

This is a very well made debut EP from Lesser Key, which bodes extremely well for a future full length release. Take note of this band.

8

Download: Intercession, Parallels, Folding Stairs
For the fans of: Tool, Deftones, A Perfect Circle, 10 Years, The Butterfly Effect
Listen: Facebook

Release date 01.04.2014
Sumerian Records

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