Sunday, September 19, 2010
Punk & Metal I’ve had my fun and I’ve had enough
Posted by Kelsey Simpson on Sun, Sep 19, 2010 at 4:53 PM
Former Bolth singer J.S. is ready with an inside joke about his project elle: “I mean there’s a shield with L’s on it… if you were paying attention then you saw this coming.” Bolth's logo was, of course, a shield with the letter "L," but one notes at least one discontinuity between that band and his latest project.
You see, elle is not a band per se, like Bolth — according to J.S, it's a musical venture that is open to anyone and everyone, an evolving collective project of sorts. The name is taken from a song on Bolth’s final album, “If You Want Peace Prepare For Class War”. That band called it quits in late 2009 because, according to J.S., “Our hearts just weren’t in it anymore. It’s not a big deal.”
elle’s first release is a demo: Life Sentence. J.S. mused that the title can be read literally or allusively: “It was also the name of an ‘80s hardcore band. Who isn’t ripping off ‘80s hardcore these days?” The lyrics are left open to interpretation, although the release's final form will feature an explanation of the album's art.
The demo is made up of four songs, and they all run together without a pause between tracks. elle incorporates eclectic hardcore, and strongly sets itself apart from modern metal-core trends. Towards the climax of the demo, the music has the intensity of a town crier trying to get the attention of any and all passersby.
“Crusader” begins with a sound clip, "If we can't live in peace well then let's die in peace" and eventually barrels into the following lyrics:
“And I’ll never believe you, so if you feel compelled
get your jihad on, girlfriend, and send me to hell
cause I’ll always expose you, so if you feel obliged
put a bullet in my head and prove me right.”
A lot of J.S.'s lyrics seem to contradict each other, an inconsistency he attributes to his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.
In “White Horses”, J.S. states:
“I can let hope die with dignity
I’ve had my fun and I’ve had enough
‘cause it’s never enough
and it’s always too much”
J.S. has emerged from the ashes of Bolth older, wiser and almost defeated. Yet instead of standing down he’s created elle — an anti-band open to anyone wanting to make music. The demo will be available for free download online. 42 physical copies were released Sept. 11.
Readers also liked…
-
Deadmen tell no tales
Local metal men leave behind the perfect 7" epitaph. A recap of their final show.
- Aug 16, 2010
-
Technique without passion is bullshit
How I spent my summer vacation with proto-punks The Down-fi.
- Aug 20, 2010
Author Archives
-
2011 in Review: DIY Shows
Step Dads, The Dream is Dead, Dude Fest, Bolth and more topped DIY princess Kelsey Simpson's best shows of the year.
- Dec 28, 2011
- More »
Comments (0)