The Higher State are BACK.
It’s been 3 years since the last full-length release by the garage rockers, but Volume 27, released this week on 13 O’Clock records, is well worth the wait. The album comes on hard, loud, and full of fuzz with “Long Someways To Go”, which sounds like some unearthed single from the 60s garage punk scene. There are several other cave-stomping, pulse-pounding tunes to follow, each featuring heavy fuzz, wild reverberating guitars and infectious farfisa lines. “Worst of Their Treason”, “Forest Through the Trees”, “Killing Me Inside”, and “Smoke and Mirrors” are all anthemic, raw garage tunes that are spaced perfectly within the track listing, yet could also each hold their own if released as a single.
The most impressive thing about The Higher State however, is their ability to write not only killer garage stompers, but also tightly constructed garage-folk tunes full of Byrds-esque harmonies and jangly guitars. Tracks such as “When We Say”, “Pretending I’m Dead”, “Tomorrow You’ll Find Today”, and “Never Be That Man” showcase the truly phenomenal musicianship and vocal talents of the band’s current lineup. Each of these tracks has a twinge of melancholy or bitterness to it’s lyrics, and are all fantastic slow-burners that fully round out the album when listened to in it’s entirety.
Volume 27 is the 3rd full length LP from The Higher State (although the band’s formation dates back to 2005). It’s not only miles ahead of any of their past releases, it’s miles ahead of what anyone out there is doing within the genre. The raw, authentic, occasionally stripped-down sound you’ll hear throughout every song on this album is clearly influenced by yesterday’s garage greats, but is so much more than just a reproduction. The Higher State have something new to say, and they say it damn well.
If you’re in the US, you can get your hands on Volume 27 NOW- the album was just released via 13 O’Clock records, and if you happen to be lucky enough to be one of the first 50, you’ll get a copy with a limited, hand-numbered fanzine booklet! Don’t miss out!
Dig several tracks off Volume 27 streaming here: http://www.13oclockrecords.com/sounds_new.html
Sheena Salazar for POW Magazine
sheenacheyennesalazar @ gmail.com
