Modern Life Is War returns with a new full length album, the first in over a decade. Titled "Life On The Moon", it sees the light of day on September 5th via Deathwish Inc/Iodine recordings. And what a way to start this new season, right? If you know me, you know that MLIW is a band that I deeply love because of their unmatched ability to speak to my soul when I need it the most. I feel that this is also the case for a lot of people in their devout fanbase, especially those a little older than me who got first hand experience of the colossal impact that the Iowa outfit's visceral music had in the melodic hardcore genre that flourished after their breakup. And the fact that a good part of them is proudly bearing large tattoos of MLIW lyrics, is a testament to the band's true influence in an era of shooting stars.
In turn, if you belong in the above category, when you approach this album I urge you to keep an open mind. "Life On The Moon" picks up where the "Tribulation Worksongs" left off and marks the departure from previous recordings. One may ask, why now? Why not keep playing the same recipe that fans love? Because people are their influences, and much like people, influences change and evolve. The band is shedding the weight of expectations like a snake shedding its skin; while the emotional depth is always present, the sonic packaging has reached a new trajectory that little resembles what one would consider a core MLIW identity. The turn in direction seems to solidify the band's new sound, proving that heartfelt musicianship can't be contained in narrow guidelines. While the approach is more mature, it's also quite experimental and nuanced in nature.
Musically, the compositions touch on various genres. The listener can expect unapologetic psychedelic riffs, minimalist passages, dynamic patterns and upbeat hardcore which towards the end of the album will eventually blend with the essential elements that make MLIW's sound so distinct. This could be interpreted as an attempted look in the past, or maybe some sort of "treat" for the old-school fans. On "Life On The Moon" they still keep things coarse and nothing is stretched to far, and yet nothing is predictable -the singles that preceded the release being a testament to that. From the first spin, it becomes clear they're not trying to impress anyone; to intrigue, yes, absolutely. They weave a sound simplistic and at the same time intricate, as if to challenge the listener to go to the next song even out of sheer curiosity. In terms of production, let's be frank; the band has always aimed for raw emotion, not polished results like most hardcore bands do at some point to make their sound more marketable and this is still the case. In that sense, maybe MLIW is still preaching to the choir and not necessarily trying to appeal to a new audience. We all know that their greatest asset is their live show anyway.
In terms of lyrics, we don't stray far from what we are used to. Deep down, Jeffrey Eaton is always a rebel questioning the norms and using poetry to lift the cracked facade of the American society and expose how social issues affect everyone. His lyrics perfectly express the internal landscape of his ideas, feelings and experience (the relatability aspect I mentioned earlier) but also serve as powerful social criticism. In turbulent times like these, with people being conditioned to not react to things unless they are directly affected, indoctrinated to hate anything and anyone different than them, it is important to see artists using their platforms in a reactive manner. I believe at some point Jeffrey has himself admitted that life is political and while he has consciously avoided taking a stance on certain issues, lines like "if they want war/we'll meet them" on "Bloodsport" (or the entire song for that matter) feel like a call to arms.
Overall, "Life On The Moon" is bold, it's angsty, it's resilient, just like life itself. Only louder and more distorted. Granted, as a creature of habit I'll always feel nostalgic about the older material but I'm welcoming this era with open arms.
7.5/10
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