Philly-based Lateral is a brand new band with a handful of shows under their belt, and a perfectly named debut single: ‘Phenomenal Realization’.
It’s a halting, staccato introduction, but the band manages to keep it groovy as everything rolls along in a really unique way – like the gears of an immense, malfunctioning machine grinding together as it lurches forward.
It’s a crisp sound with loads of width and space in the mix. The drums snap and splash like an angry crocodile.
Erik’s vocal melody slots perfectly into the gaps and manages to go through numerous tonal changes in the track’s short run time. The range is incredible – I got hints of Mike Patton (Faith No More), Dave Grohl, and a few others at certain points – but this has a character all its own. It’s expressive but has great clarity – I loved the way the matter-of-fact lyrics were delivered in such a percussive way, too.
Erik writes, “The lyrics were written about the feeling of leaving a pot boiling on the back burner and the water spilling over, which was a metaphor for my life at the time.”
“I’ll only be gone 1 minute
Water’s on
And I hear it running down the stairs
Phenomenal realization in the air”
There’s a clear throwback vibe here – that raw, driving sound and a brooding ferocity that took me all the way back to the ’90s. But never fear – it’s as fresh and new as fallen snow.
As first releases go, this is right up there. It does so much in only 96 seconds, but I was left wanting much more.
As soon as the track finished, I had my own Phenomenal Realization – this band is definitely going places!
Written by Grubby
