The ponderous “Liberty Unknown” may be the EP’s only soft point; despite superior songwriting, the track is too spare and airy for most of its seven minutes to plant its seed. Another somber epic, Chriss Sutherland’s “Three or More,” fares better with a persistent banjo lick and Sutherland’s suspenseful, eventually wrenching delivery.
In the realm of local music, it’s rare to hear an album that survives mixing and mastering with a band’s essence — the atmosphere of their live performances, the depth of their personalities — intact. This EP sounds exactly like what a Fire on Fire album ought to sound like, which is no small feat considering the stature of these musicians as individual performers. Maybe we have the Young God crew to thank for that, or maybe a supremely experienced band, but regardless: Fire on Fire, welcome to Young God; Young God, welcome to Maine.
Just one other thing: Micah needs to sing more next time.
On the Web
Young God: www.younggodrecords.com
Email the author
Christopher Gray: cgray@phx.com
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