First In Last Out- ‘The Distance Within Us’ (EP)- (02/08/2011)- Self Released

   Post Hardcore band First In Last Out from Sutton, were formed in early 2010 for a ‘Battle Of The Bands’ competition at their school, in which they came second, and have been performing gigs ever since. Starting out covering songs of other bands, they spent the winter months of 2010 writing their first original material for ‘The Distance Within Us’.


     The EP commences with a dramatic, monotone note that draws you in and intrigues you to listen on. It smashes into a politely playground inspired sound effect and hushed drumming. Before an actually musical input, it is obvious that the album is very armature, and as the scream vocals begin, even more so. I am not a fan of metal music personally, but it is obvious when the genre does not suit the vocalist. First In Last Out’s vocalist Jack Wells sounds as if he is having a yelling battle, especially because the lyrics are tiresome to try and comprehend. An overload of sound effects tarnishes any hope of simplistic or emotion filled melodies and fails to hide a tedious track. 

     ‘The Truth Doesn't Mean a Thing (When It Comes From The Mouth Of A Bullshitter)’ roars to a start with a riff similar to the likes of Young Guns, proving that First In Last Out Do Have Some potential. It also provides some welcomed understandable lyrics, but really reflect the band’s age and immaturity as songwriters, ‘Just stand down you fucking coward, stand down...’. The observable fact that this EP was not professionally produced tears away any anticipation for post-production enhanced vocals, which seem necessary to make this track effective. The vocals are simply not strong enough to carry about the conventionally melodic and scream components. Musically, however, the band are quite strong, specifically with ‘Addiction’, which illustrates their promise with much improved vocals.

'The Distance Within Us': Ammateur Artwork

    Fourth track ‘Rubber Ducks Don’t Drown’ sounds as if Wells simply opened his mouth as wide as possible and recorded whatever noise he happened to make, which is by no means a pleasant one to the ears. His questionable vocals stain the respectable work of guitarists Josh West and Luke Norrie-Rolfe. In a comparable fashion to Bring Me The Horizon, First In Last Out manage to play pretty well, yet fairly out of time with one another. But, towards the end of the track, Wells portrays that he is capable of enjoyable singing, with quite an impressive note held. This reflects that it may be better for the band to aim for a sound similar to that of The Blackout or more pop punk based bands.

     Rapid and rowdy, ‘You've Changed (C U Next Time)’ has everything you’d expect from a metal or post hardcore band, but its constant speed variations and inaccessible lyrics devastate what decent elements it does contain. ‘Loyal[ties] and Lies’ begins in a pop punk manner with a melodic riff and hasty drumming, but once again, both vocal types fall short of merging with everything else. Final track ‘It’s Not The End’, although an ironic song title, is just as weak an offering as the rest of the EP due to the scream input, without which it would have worked quite well.

     First In Last Out can retain their heavy aspirations with the other instrumentation and contain the vocals into a more melodic manner. Yet they must be aware of the fatale attempt of struggling to come across as American, which is rarely glorified. 


2/5