Hyper-charged, high-energy passion and off-the-rails kinetic destruction collide in letlive., the most exciting live performers to decimate small clubs in a decade. Combining the brash and brawny abrasiveness of punk rock, the muscular brutality of metal and poetic socio-economic-political commentary authentically bred on the streets of California's Inglewood neighborhood, letlive. has captivated the British journalists and inner-city revolutionaries alike with their unrelenting pursuit of artistic truth.
Sweat, swagger, sworn declarations and unwavering tenacity energize these stylishly subversive young men as they craft polemic missives designed to unsettle, unnerve and ultimately empower. Their debut album for Epitaph is power and creativity unhinged.
Imagine Glassjaw, The Blood Brothers, Refused and At The Drive storming the stage during a Rage Against The Machine performance at the Mowtown Historical Museum and you'll start to get some idea of what letlive. can do. It's punk rock with the modus operandi of soul. Throw in some psychological, physiological and esoteric inspiration from disparate geographical ancestors like The Doors, N.W.A., Beck, Beach Boys and Black Flag and the letlive. manifesto broadens further still, breaking barriers and blowing minds.
Metal Hammer summed up letlive. pretty succinctly as "ridiculously awesome." Their instructions for music fans everywhere were to "get on this shit, right now!" Kerrang! magazine called the band "post-hardcore's next stars."
"The stars aligned with our hormones and angst," vocalist Jason Aalon Butler says of the group's formation. "As the accumulation of beauty and bullshit were steaming their way toward their apex, we felt it necessary to make moves that would revolutionize the treatment of all things dwelling the Earth and blur the lines of social dynamism."
"But instead," he points out, "we started a band."
"letlive. was created from common ideals and ethics - musically and otherwise," adds bassist Ryan Jay Johnson. "Each member comes from a different musical background. Growth happened with the five members within the endeavor as everyone went through their own personal identity crisis. Having the opportunity to build and mold together helped compliment each other, speaking both musically and psychologically."
Fake History, the band's highly sought-after underground debut, arises with new life courtesy of three bonus tracks, expanded packaging and worldwide distribution through letlive's new label home, Epitaph, which is one of the longest running and most respected independent music labels in the business of releasing music.
letlive. seeks nothing less than a sea change in culture itself, with Fake History leading the charge as the group's opening salvo against mediocrity. "We are cognizant of the creative deprivation that has been apparent not only through music culture, but culture in general for quite some time. We don't want to be just a band," Butler says.
Fake History is meant to be taken in as a uniquely whole experience from start to finish, with a living and breathing personality and movement that persists throughout. Don't worry about "singles." Just experience.
"The Sick Sick, 6.8 Billion" tackles the thorny issue of organized religion from a personal standpoint full of critical thinking and vigor. "Murther" addresses the painfully dispiriting reality of broken homes, with yet another personal touch. "Casino Columbus" deconstructs the idea of Christopher Columbus as "hero" or "discoverer" by ripping apart the narrative taught in traditional history books and exposing the colonialism, imperialism and slavery that's inherent in the true story of America, warts and all.
"A great deal of sweat and tears went into the birth of this release," explains guitarist Jeff Sahyoun. "We spend the majority of our off-time in the studio writing and experimenting with dissimilar ideas and musical avenues. It’s helped us grow musically, individually and most importantly as a unit. Being able to look back on past works and compare them to the present is and will forever be, attractive."
letlive. represents the idea to "let one be as they are," explains Sahyoun. "To live as they choose, speak what they want to speak, love what they want to love, feel what they want to feel."
"letlive. is you," he concludes. "letlive. is anything you want it to be."
