In some ways we have been looking for a fresh breath within the pop punk arena, something which truly stands out as fresh and exciting and UK outfit Livonia going by their debut EP could just be that inspiration. Their introduction is a contagion of gripping riffs and manipulative hooks backed by impassioned attitude and a hungry energy which just refused to be ignored.
Hailing out of London/Milton Keynes, Livonia consists of James Bates, Robert Cone, Mark Craig, Tom Matthews, and Chris Walters. Details on them are scarce but it seems like the quintet emerged around a year ago and as in evidence within their debut have honed their sound into a rousingly potent proposal.
The three full tracks within Hate. Relate. Regenerate relate to its title though the release opens up with Ready When You Are, a rousing introduction to the EP which deserves to be expanded into its own authoritative riff bred encounter. Even so it makes for a rousing lead into the following Snake Song; a song themed by betrayal instantly springing a gripping riff upon ears, one swiftly backed up by just as magnetic rhythms and the vocal prowess of Bates. There is a swing to the track which immediately dived under the skin, a virulence replicated in the vocals and the anthemic roar of the track’s chorus. Hooks are just as lively and creatively animated too, every element together creating a proposal with the contagion of a Billy Talent and roar akin to that of The Story So Far.
Next up, Blame Away similarly leaps into its tenacious stride straightaway, rhythms and riffs uniting in another infectious trespass driven by mightily swung beats. Again that inherent infectiousness fuels vocals and sound, melodically woven hooks as boisterous and ear grabbing as the song’s muscular tendencies. A track lyrically following from its predecessor in many ways, looking at trust and the loss of, it similarly needed little time to get under the skin and get the body and spirit bouncing.
As impressive and striking as both songs are, they are only eclipsed by EP closing Talking. Offering hope and support, encouraging emotional sharing, the track rises up on a sonic whirl before uncaging its riff and hook woven tapestry of temptation. There is a growl to Bates’ tones which is assimilated in the snarl of guitars and punch of rhythms; a roar that only breeds the most gloriously raucous and arousing chorus which dares you not to join in on, a challenge lost by us each and every time.
It is a mighty and thrilling end to a striking and richly enjoyable first encounter with Livonia, a band we are already suggesting and anticipating great things from ahead.
Hate. Relate. Regenerate is out now; streaming @ https://spoti.fi/34kBw
https://www.facebook.com/LivoniaBand
Pete RingMaster 09/05/2020
Copyright RingMasterReview: MyFreeCopyright
Was there any specific idea behind the forming of the band and also in what you wanted it and your sound to offer?
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The following Stand Tall is similarly bred but swiftly shows a grouchier edge to its intensity and rhythmic textures as well as richer emotive hues in its fiery melodic enterprise and vocals. As its predecessor, the song has ears and thoughts fully engaged with a nicely brewing appetite for more in tow. That gets healthily fed by the poppier exploits of One More Day, though it too has a potent line in emotional shadows within its galvanic canter. Though the song, as its companions, is not a full on roar, it has an anthemic quality which only adds to a successful persuasion and recruitment of listener involvement.
Drop Out opens up with Built To Last, a song to be admitted which had these ears hooked just by its opening melody, its warm smile carrying suggestions of riper things to come, which indeed they do as the song reveals a feisty stroll with spiky beats and a web of hooks and fiery riffs. There is an instant and eager energy to the song which is matched by the strong vocals of Plews, backed very well across the band. The guitars of Ed Lawson and James Hunt continue to dance on the imagination from start to finish, continually hinting, as the song itself does, that they are about to explode into a more aggressive state but instead just remain flirting and teasing with lively enterprise.
as the song relaxes into an accomplished and confident stroll of warm riffs and spicy hooks stroked by the excellent vocals of Castillo. The track does little wrong to be fair but equally just provides what so many other genre offerings seem to, something enjoyable and engaging but nothing out of the ordinary, even with the impressive craft of Parsons III pounding away throughout. Subsequently though the track turns out to be an appetiser for greater things which are hinted at by the following Feeling Like I Should and fully triggered from Holiday From Crazy onwards. The first of the pair is a warm and radiant persuasion, a lively croon where vocals and guitar provide a colourful emotive portrait from which the chorus finds a rich infection to spark the imagination. It is the little twists of chords and hooks though which intrigue and ignite the song; elements explored even more from hereon in as its successor takes over. The third song flies at ears with melodies and rhythms pumped and creative tenacity aflame. There is a spicy mix of early Green Day and Simple Plan to the song but the rich hues of sonic adventure and rhythmic drama are the riveting and ear exciting endeavour which makes a great song into something special.
explosive piece but one hinting at the potent offerings to come whilst treating feet and imagination to an energetic dance. Its successful beckoning is followed by the imposing presence of Actions Speak Louder Than Words. Starting with the strong tones of Wheeler over swipes of guitar and an increasingly intimidating run of beats, it is an engaging if unsurprising start even with the also appealing backing vocals of Turek building up the lure of the song. It is when the track suddenly twists into a livelier surge of antagonistic beats and scything strikes of guitar that it comes alive, slipping into a melodic flame of expectations feeding and ear refreshing pop punk revelry. From vocals to sonic incitement, heavy rhythms to abrasing riffery, the song is a thrilling stomp which allows its inventive unpredictability to run naked through the track. The song also shows why the band has been compared to some of their inspirations but just as strongly and pleasingly it lights the senses with older essences of Hagfish and Mucky Pup.