I always feel utterly unqualified when reviewing bands such as Lives At Sea because it’s not music I go out of my way to listen to. It doesn’t mean I don’t like it, and it’s not that I don’t get it, I just find it difficult to listen to hardcore bands when I’m kicking back and just enjoying music. It’s so much better in a live setting with the passion, energy, emotion and all that jazz. So apologies in advance for the short (and I’m sure many people will read this thinking ‘shit’) review.
It’s impossible to say much about Lives At Sea because they give so little away. Their myspace doesn’t have a bio and the email they sent me states they’re a five-piece from London and that’s it. So I don’t have too much to go on, which, in a sense, kind of adds to the mystery and intrigue – the band pummel their way through three songs in short and sharp fashion, spitting lyrics out with fury to a backdrop of searing guitars and violent percussion. There’s a familiarity with other more well known acts in the hardcore scene, but then, to me anyway, it’s all about the energy and the passion and there’s that in abundance here. The three songs are all of decent standard and well worth listening to if you like the usual suspects. It’s just not really my thing, hence the score – even though it’s easy to appreciate the band are good at what they do.