Never the Less probably listen to a lot of Pennywise. Well, I listen to a lot of Pennywise, and Never the Less seem to follow the same, aggressive, heavy-but-still-catchy style of punk rock. They call themselves (or someone else calls them) 'melodi-core,' but I'm not sure why. It's pretty much straight-up punk. Mixing up the beats a little bit, makes a welcome change from the Ramones school of punk, and the octave guitar leads (on such songs as "Upside Down" and "Hero") keep the songs from sliding into boredom.
Trevor Garvey's vocals are clean and clear, and the beats are always intelligent and well done. Samples are used throughout the album, and serve several functions. On such songs as "Some Other Time," they introduce the song. At other times, they don't seem to serve much of a purpose at all.
Overall, this album is solid, and at times very good. Never the Less have no problems pulling off their lightning-fast stops and starts, and they can play technically when needed, and hard as nails when that is called for. The versatility of Never the Less is a testament to how well these kids are doing. Look out for them in the future.
Other coverage for this album
Art for the Ears 2001Reviewed by Marco PovervestHere's a melodic hardcore release that makes me think of Stretch Arm Strong. The vocals are not of that raw screaming type though. It's clear singing and screaming/calling. Never The Less has a punky feel to their music which is mainly because of the vocals. Songs like Too Far, 22 Years and the title-song are energetic packages with fast and slower parts. It's an intense music with a positive…
