Expire
Pretty Low

'Pretty Low' was released on June 24, 2014, under the aegis of Bridge Nine Records. It is the second studio album by one of the most interesting emerging bands in the American hardcore scene. The four, more specifically, hail from Milwaukee, and are therefore exponents of the so-called Midwest Hardcore, a definition more tied to a simple matter of origin than to a purely stylistic question.

In any case, the hardcore sound of these guys is the natural result of the union of the four individual elements: a frenetic and exasperated drum, desperate and piercing vocals, simply killer bass lines, and a guitar with a metallic hardcore imprint. These four elements blend perfectly, creating an extremely compact and uncompromising sound, characterized by a typically hardcore song-form, with tracks lasting a maximum of two minutes peppered with breakdowns, interludes where the bass takes the lead and head-down tupa-tupa rhythms. The work of each of the four members would be worthy of a single description, but to avoid being too long-winded, I will limit myself to particularly praising the interaction between the piercing vocals of frontman Josh Kelting and the rugged back vocals of guitarist Zach Dear, and the aforementioned and exhilarating bass lines by Caleb Murphy.

The album consists of twelve tracks, with a total duration of about twenty-four minutes. A concentrate of anger, frustration, and dissatisfaction with an unjust and merciless life, that hits the listener violently from all directions. Opening is the title track, which immediately clarifies the group’s intentions thanks also to its incisive chorus ("I'm feeling pretty low/ Can't stop now, can't lose control"), then leaves room for the excellent "Just Don't". Other highlights are "Gravity" (I will repeat myself, but the intro in bass is really cool) and "Old Habits" (the ending is frame-worthy). The high point of the album is perhaps reached with "Forgetting", the first and only single released and a true explosive track. "Second Face" finally, perfectly fulfills its duty and closes everything beautifully. In any case, one of the best features of "Pretty Low" is its compactness and the high quality of each track, so listening to the album in its entirety is nonetheless a must. Furthermore, the production ensures a sound impact very close to what one would experience at a concert, a realm where, I speak from personal experience, the four give their best.

In conclusion, 'Pretty Low' is a powerful, pissed-off, and above all honest hardcore album, the fruit of the dedication and passion of four guys who indisputably deserve the growing success they are gaining within the contemporary hardcore scene and the attention of anyone who loves this type of sound.