Playing EnemyI remember back in 2003 I had decided to make a stop at the Relapse Records store on South Street after attending a show at the Trocadero. After briefly browsing through the racks I noticed a Black Flag Tribute CD that was released by the now defunct Initial Records. After noticing the bands involved I decided to pick it up. Looking back it was both a good thing and a bad thing. It was a bad thing because man I wasted $12 on a decent at best tribute CD, and boy did some of the bands on that tribute butcher their efforts to the mighty Black Flag. The best thing that came out of that tribute was the cover of "Six Pack" that Playing Enemy contributed. They were the only band successful at adding their own twists to the song while still allowing the song to retain its identity. Ever since that fateful incident I have been a fan of these guys.
Sadly, after 8 years, 2 full lengths, and a slew of other releases the band has decided to packed it in. Initially, this album was intended to be a full length but for whatever reason the band shut it down. Both the label and band obviously didn't want for the last five tracks that they recorded to fall on deaf ears, so both parties decided to release this as a postmortem EP.
Though this EP is only five tracks, the duration of the EP still creeps close to 25 minutes. And thankfully the band decided not to use any long spaced out sections of droning and noise. So what you get is purely the bare essentials, albeit there are still noise elements found within the structures of the songs. Aside from the absence of noise-drone tracks, the band sticks to what has worked so well for them in the past.
Throughout the five songs the band showcases their proven knack of using angular riffs, whacked out time signatures and prominent, front and center basslines. And not that they haven't done it in the past but there is a bit more dynamics used, giving the songs even more of a swelling feeling.
Demian Johnston is as cathartic as ever, in both the lyrics and the delivery. "Lonely Competition" is the perfect song to close off the career of this great trio:
"I had a thought our friends have outgrown us. Feel that distance, see them way up there. You had a thought. They all are dragging me down. I'll miss that weight, that excess baggage. Then I'll be free, then I'll exceed. And I thought you'd fall by now. I think I'll have to fly. Taking pop shots at the sky. And I thought you'd fall by now. And I thought you'd fall by now. I hope I'm up there right now, and I hope its you that pulled me up. I think I'm mixing this all up. I hope we fall together. They'll never find us up here. They'll never see me up here. They'll never look for us up here. I think I'm all mixed up here. I'm all alone here. I'm sure I mixed it up. It's just so lonely here.
The EP comes in a gloss finished, Arigato package made out of recycled products, which is a relatively new packaging that hasn't been used by many bands/labels (would love to see more 7"s come in this packaging!) It's simply a four spine, cardboard box. Included in the layout is a cardboard sheet that includes an illustration done by Johnston on one side and the lyrics on the other. And the illustration next to the lyrics looks like a fucked up looking cock (yes, sometimes I have the maturity level of an 8-year old, I am well aware of this).
Rating: 4/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: "Admission To The Shoulders of Giants" & "The Lonely Competition"
Synopsis: A fitting farewell to one of the most talented trios to rise to the surface of the underground. If you enjoyed the previous releases, you will enjoy this. If for whatever reason you have yet to hear these guys but you still like Deadguy, Kiss It Goodbye, Rorschach then do yourself and check out these guys.
These links here, check them out.