With track titles like ‘The Sick, Sick 6.8 Billion’, it’s already clear to see that LA post-hardcore rockers letlive have got somewhat of an oddly comical and twisted view of things. But does that come across in their music? Let’s hope so. Here, for their third LP release and debut on Epitaph Records, letlive are trying to break past the multitude of existing so-called hardcore bands and lead the way in something that they could – almost – call their own.
The aforementioned opening track, which follows a short but brutally sweet album intro entitled ‘Le Prologue’, wastes no time in throwing newcomers of letlive straight into the dynamic ferocity that the five-piece have to offer. Potential listeners will already be pleased to hear that, from the outset, ‘Fake History’ is already showing signs of being an extraordinary new experience. Combining Rage Against the Machine at their heaviest and most furious with the melodic punk of every other post-hardcore band from here to letlive’s home town, the album quickly proves itself to be an intense effort and an impressive new offering from the band. As ‘The Sick, Sick 6.8 Billion’ seamlessly shifts between seriously agitated aggression and a rather more harmonious and pleasant sound, you can almost feel the circle pit going into overdrive.
However, unlike other melodic punk bands, letlive manage to avoid the often embarrassingly unflattering clash of heavy music and all too soulful pop. That’s not to say that singer Jason Aalon Butler can’t do soulful. He can. Big time. A track called ‘Muther’, for example, with its sorrowful post-grunge feel and almost countrified style, takes things to a completely different and mellower level. Not to mention the bizarre loungey jazz outro, which Butler uses to show off the range of vocal talents to his name.
On the other hand, songs like ‘Casino Columbus’ and the curiously-titled ‘H. Ledger’ employ a far more traditional hardcore sound, mixing breakneck drumming and hectic vocals to an ultimately satisfying level.
In conclusion, letlive are a post-hardcore band like no other. All the usual characteristics are there: blinding screams, ridiculously insane drumming and time signatures and even the more melodic elements of actual singing. What the band have managed to do on top of that though, is give their newest release a texture of easygoing light-heartedness to ease the utter lunacy going on elsewhere.
Stereoboard Rating: 7/10
‘Fake History’ is due for release on 11th April.
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However, unlike other melodic punk bands, letlive manage to avoid the often embarrassingly unflattering clash of heavy music and all too soulful pop. That’s not to say that singer Jason Aalon Butler can’t do soulful. He can. Big time. A track called ‘Muther’, for example, with its sorrowful post-grunge feel and almost countrified style, takes things to a completely different and mellower level. Not to mention the bizarre loungey jazz outro, which Butler uses to show off the range of vocal talents to his name. 
