It’s been two years of silence from local quintet Lords of Death, and like any post-hardcore band worth the distortion pedal they rode in on, they took their sweet, feedback-laced time. But You Are Nowhere, recorded by local studio wizard Jonas Vece at Second Born Sound and released in May, stands less as a return and more of an ambush.
This four-track EP kicks off with all the essential components of any solid project from the aforementioned genre. You want chugging riffs? Melodic dissonance? Breakdown crescendos with the emotional nuance of a controlled demolition? They’ve packed it all in and called it “vacation metal.” But if this is a vacation, it’s the kind where you lose your passport in the middle of a pit and decide you never want to come home.
Chris Duggan’s vocals teeter between desperation and declaration, riding shotgun with dual guitars played by Jayson Kingdon and Matt Reininger that slice and shimmer like they’re sawing through drywall and memory. Eric Fodor’s basslines are intricate and unsettling, like a low-end conspiracy theory, and newly added Joe Randazzo’s drums? They’re not so much played but exorcised with thrashing precision.
The EP peaks on “Roman Scandal,” a standout track that features guest vocals from Piper Ferrari of Roman Candle. Ferrari’s scowl juxtaposes Duggan’s primal rasp with a haunting elegance, creating an expected harmony if you’re familiar with the two bands.
Lords of Death have returned from the void sharper, louder and more demanding than ever. And if this is nowhere, we’re going to want to stay for a while.
Lords of Death linktr.ee/lordsofdeathnv
Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!
