Johnny Booth

The Bronze Age EP

Written by: PP on 19/03/2014 23:45:43

So what do we have here? The long-lost little brother for Norma Jean and The Chariot methinks? That's at least how it sounds like on "The Bronze Age" EP, the latest release by Johnny Booth, a Long Island based mathcore bunch, which follows a relatively successful debut album "Connections" in 2012. Their vocalist Andrew Herman sounds so much like Josh Scogin in places it's necessary to double-check this isn't his new side project after The Chariot breakup under some kind of mystery alias. Not that we mind at all, because it is precisely this type of thick, ferocious, uncompromising scream full of distortion and unpredictability that made Scogin such a tremendous frontman the chaotic mathcore masters.

Johnny Booth follow along similar lines as those two bands for most of the record: chaotic riffs, delivered over a dissonance-heavy and brutally unforgiving platform that is sure to wreak havoc across any intimately sized venues. Think people hanging from rafters while swinging their fists windmill style while others are stage diving off amps and anything with potentially damaging heights at the venue. The southern fried flavor on the guitars, and the stop-start rhythms give them an absolutely menacing sound, and one that translates into utter chaos, but not enough to feel unorganized. There's clearly a structure and a point to each song, even on one like "Single Cell" which sees Johnny Booth stretch into Every Time i Die's craziest material for inspiration on how to combine groove and mathcore together in an unforgettable manner.

"Impulse Adrift" sounds almost identical to older material by Norma Jean (think "Redeemer" and before) and The Chariot (think "The Fiancée"), but yet it has its own flair that sets it apart just enough to warrant praise instead of criticism for unoriginality. The fact of the matter is that "The Bronze Age" EP is full of magnificent moments of total chaos that translate into grating, but entirely convincing distortion-filled screams. It's an EP that establishes them on many a "bands to watch in 2014" list across the relevant magazines.

Download: Single Cell, Impulse Adrift, No Signal
For the fans of: Norma Jean, The Chariot, Every Time I Die
Listen: Facebook

Release date 04.02.2014
Hotfoot Records

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