Living Dead Lights
Black Letters

It sounds strange in these times to see an Italian label managing to snag one of the best new acts on the U.S. alternative scene, Living Dead Lights. It's even more surprising to see how meticulously they are being nurtured, providing them with a team of international names capable of quickly transforming them from a raw EP to something damn perfect and commercial at the same time, like “Black Letters.” An album that immediately captivates from the first chords, with an “I’ll Be Your Frankenstein” that quickly gets stuck in your head, and a series of catchy tracks like “This Is Our Evolution,” “Johnny,” and “Amerikan Eyes” that have little to share with the past of Living Dead Lights.

But who are these American guys? A mix of very different personalities who, over time, have managed to find the right setup, combining an immense passion for old-school punk rock and American-style rock, the kind that, while not disdaining heavy diversions, always manages to hit straight to the listener's heart. When dealing with this type of band, the only thing you want is to experience them live, the natural habitat for anyone trying to convey something of themselves to the listener through sweat and passion. And Taka and company seem eager to do so, baring their soul and letting decidedly personal lyrics make the approach with fans even more intimate.

Supporting the album are people like Fred Archambault, David Spreng, and Tom Baker, people who have collaborated with world-renowned artists and who found in this project the necessary inspiration to produce something interesting. The graphic concept of the artwork is decidedly in line with the offering, reflecting the two faces of this band, jovial in not taking themselves too seriously and subtly dark in their approach. In America, there's a lot of buzz about them, and despite being ultra-nationalistic when it comes to music, this time they have to be given credit; Living Dead Lights are what you don't expect, a band now ready for the big leap in notoriety. Listen to believe.