NEW ALBUM – Maines – Sometimes We Live

[orig published by louderthanwar]

Maines have long been held in high esteem by all who have seen and heard them… The problem is, they need more people to see and hear them… Sporadic releases and sporadic live appearances throughout their ten year existence hampers a band who should be up there with the best of them.
‘Sometimes We Live’ is a modern day masterpiece.

If you notice the tags on their bandcamp page, they read: Punk Grunge Noise-rock Shoegaze – yeah you get all that in a 24 minute, post-hardcore apocalyptic package.

Maines are quiet and unassuming in real life, preferring to be part of the crowd rather than stand out from it. On stage (and on record) they take on a different form, like a good tradesman (sorry, tradesperson) with their tools, the songs are crafted and honed to perfection. Yet I don’t think this outfit from Conwy realise how good they actually are…!

Cont Dracula begins the journey (if you’re a native of North West Wales, you’ll understand the meaning of the title!). It sets the stall that Maines mean business with a wall of blissful guitars. I’m far from exaggerating in saying (and I’ve said it before, many a time), the intricacy of their compositions will leave your mouth agape and your mind mesmerised, and awash with a stunning sound. The ebb and flow of their songs can be a trickle and it can be a tidal wave.

Cranked up really high, this album shakes the room, the “singles” Ascendance and Electric Eyes offer familiarity around equally impressive songs like Horror, Hayek and Satellites as they weave in and out and chop and chase time signatures. Simultaneously despairing and elating.

Like all good things, the album comes to an end, but not before we are treated to Hieroglyphs, an outstanding and suspensful instrumental that wouldn’t be out of place in the film ‘28 Days Later.’

I’ve long maintained that we should bow before the eminence of Maines, and ‘Sometimes We Live’ cements that command… On your knees people!