Band of the Week - Pollution People

Let’s crack open another can (make sure it’s a can) of cheap beer and discuss the new band (or extension of?) from members of Duck Duck Goose.  Pollution People take their name from the last song on the last release by DDG.  If you’re familiar with the Ducks, perfect, because Pollution People the band pick up right where “Pollution People” the song left off: dirty metalcore with signs of maturity. 

If you weren’t aware of the Ducks before they disbanded (went on hiatus?), I don’t want the word “metalcore” to turn you off.  Sure, they have some similarities to the genre staples; Norma Jean, or even early Cave In, type riffs recorded with the stripped down dregginess of The Chariot, a few southern fried chords ala Every Time I Die with ETID’s crisp concise drumming.  Sometimes they sound like the link between Eighteen Visions’ Until the Ink Runs Out and Vanity, you know, before 18V started embarrassing themselves by becoming a hair metal band masquerading as a grunge band.  What I mean is 18V still had that metal feel while beginning to experiment with a more traditional rock n’ roll sound and James Hart started singing while turning his scream into a higher pitched yell.  That’s what you can expect singer David Ribera to bring to the forefront of Pollution People.  If you saw a picture of David after listening to this band, you’d swear his entire torso must be made of lungs.  Of course his smaller stature probably lends to the higher pitch, but the ferocity with which he screams and belts out the notes of his now refined singing voice is colossal. 

And it’s definitely the singing elements of their brand new EP Future Trash that stand out as the most memorable, though still not the main focus of their chaotic sound.  You might have heard flashes of it on DDG’s Off Yourself, but as Pollution People, the band has found a way to write around and highlight these segments.  Mixed with the turmoil of their heavier moments the new EP does feel like a sort of metalcore At the Drive-In.  Now, don’t expect anthems with high tenor rants, the record just has that ATDI impression of an inkling of sanity surrounded by unhinged energy.  Pollution People are a little rough and unfocused at times, but the EP (and name change) show a maturation process and that these guys are tapping into their own sound.  Hopefully they’ll stick around for a while and build upon their new endeavor.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pollution-People/242828019060691

Where They Started: Obviously, as Duck Duck Goose

Where You Should Start: Pick up the DDG releases and then go get the Future Trash debut EP TOMORROW!

Essential Song:

going ghost by pollution people

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  • One More NameThe Handshake Murders

The Handshake Murders - “One More Name”

I’m not going to hate on clones.  I mean, I love a shit ton of bands that try to sound like Botch.  I just feel like if you’re going to jock someone’s style why not choose (or in this case, stick with) ripping off the best.  The first EP from The Handshake Murders was an obvious nod to Coalesce, and while not creating the same sound that legends are made of, it certainly was a worthy effort and an enjoyable listen.  A few years and member changes later and The Handshake Murders were back at it, only this time taking on a more formulaic sound and modeling themselves after Norma Jean (who is just a clone of a Botch and Coalesce child anyway).  If you’ve seen Multiplicity or the Family Guy where Stewie’s clone makes Brian’s clone then you know how The Handshake Murders story ends. Regardless, Bury the Effigy is a worthwhile EP.

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