The
band includes guitarist Ethan Koozer, once part of the dreamy indie-rock band
Lydia. Though, don’t expect to hear Lydia-influenced music here! Whereas Lydia’s
tunes were reminiscent of chill-wave indie rock sounds, Gates assumes a more aggressive
tone – like that of an angsty teenager denied of his/her dreams. Like
this you mean is a far cry from the vibes given out by guitarist Ethan
Koozer's former musical mates.
Although Gates has been compared to the likes
of Jimmy Eat World and Mineral, there is also a dash of Three Days Grace to
their music. The song The Sound of Letting Go, with its
powerful riffs and emphatic chorus is an excellent example of this.
All
their songs have an angst, which hits you in the form of crashing cymbals,
dreamy leads and aggressive bass lines. The lead vocals are an appropriate
match for the sometimes-hot-sometimes-cold emotion of both the music and lyrics.
Sometimes he lovingly croons into the microphone, sometimes laments his
misfortunes and at other times screams his heart out as the instruments behind
him hit a heartfelt crescendo.
Check
out their limited edition CDs and Vinyl records. Apparently, the artwork and
the overall aesthetic aspects were personally looked after by all members of
the band. That is something you don’t get to see often. Personally, I feel
their artwork pretty much represents what their music stands for. It definitely
is a good idea to snag one of their original limited edition CD or vinyl while
it lasts!
Gates
have opened for acts like Moving Mountains, Pianos Become the Teeth, Brian
Bonz, Rival Schools, Prawn, Gifts from Enola, and Punchline. They have even
completed a successful tour of the US (or at least half of the US). Both their
albums are up for free download.
So,
my verdict is, they definitely deserve a listen!
You can DOWNLOAD both their albums for FREE.
Rating: 4/5
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