Bailer’s new self-titled EP is exciting. Noise rock – one of the many terms for the kind of enigmatically beautiful music that Bailer makes – has been around for awhile at this point, crafted by bands like Converge and Norma Jean, among the many other hardcore bands that ran a solid career but haven’t retained widespread name recognition down to the present day. It’s always exciting, though, when it feels like there’s a new band to help keep the baton of chaotic heavy music moving forward, and music fans have been graced with such a band in Bailer. It’s not easy to find that perfect balance of emotion, anger, chaos, and melody, but from the first track of their new EP it feels like the members of Bailer have done it.
It’s the kind of music that you’ve got to be careful listening to because it’ll get you pumped up and you wouldn’t want to accidentally start shouting metal lyrics while at your anti-metal family members’ place. The band is no doubt sick live, and for those graced with a Bailer show in your area, you’d better get out there and have the good time this band promises.
The music is fast paced but melodic. Through the fury, it has a personal touch and feel to it. Vocalist Alex O’Leary’s contributions to the album are impassioned; it feels like his vocals are not only physically intense but emotionally intense as well.
The vocals, of course, are laid atop a never-ending maelstrom of pounding guitars and drums. The music isn’t overly technical – in other words, this isn’t a The Dillinger Escape Plan cover band – but the musicians take melodic ideas and run with them, pounding them out over and over again and making for a memorably energetic experience.
Sometimes the best way to go about things is in just that fashion, with a no holds barred show of straight up intensity.
With their epically “grimy” hardcore music, Bailer is one of those bands making sure that the kind of solid songs they craft live on.
