The Skeleton Years - "In Memoriam"

REVIEW: The Skeleton Years - "In Memoriam"

I just got my copy of the new EP release by The Skeleton Years, As a listener, I would suggest you pick up their first two EPs (2013's "Between Lunacy And You", and 2014's "Pieces Of Recovery") to understand how the band's musical direction pushes them forward with every new release.

Just when you thought this year was coming to an end without anything more to offer (Except the new Sugar Hiccup full length "Closure", but that's a totally different matter altogether), The Skeleton Years decide to stun everyone and shares to us their jawdropper of an EP, The band really flies their Dark Wave and Post-Punk flag high with their breakthrough release "In Memoriam", drawing heavy influence from The Mission, Bauhaus, The Sound, Warsaw and the likes. These fellas are definitely making the south of the Metro look and feel like 80's Manchester. Let that sink in for a bit.

Album opener 'Color Blind' sets the mood just right: The TSY that I've known still flaunts their familiar, punky, crunchy, complementring guitars, with a lot going on on all fronts. The closest to an anthemic theme I can pick up on is 'Hold Tight', although not quite as perfect as what 2013's 'Dead Night' accomplished, but zero complaints here, kids. (PS- that still tops the throne on my daily commute playlist-4 years running.) 'Killing Time' added a new flavor to the recipe, displaying the band's knack for altering the mood by taking us to more darker territories. 'Do You Really?' has that thumping bass line flirting with the listener all through their 4 minute parade. Have you ever listened to new albums coming out by artists and were disappointed when you cannot get that one track that would always bring out the best in the band's work and become that standout track that defines that particular release? 'Slow Motion' was fucking unbelievable and made my jaw drop for half a day. This track stands out the best for me on this release. It still gives me chills listening to it on repeat. The vocalist's baritone execution is totally on point. So is the perfect display of controlled, chaotic drumming, letting you sense the urgency of the music and the message. This is a totally different TSY I am hearing, and I am absolutely floored. Explosive, dark, and gloomy, yet this is where the band shines the most, and perfectly displays their influences from the Post-Punk era with a nod in the direction of the late singer-songwriter Ian Kevin. This could have easily been chosen to make the final roster for inclusion to the legendary Pinoy Indie compilation "Subterranean Romance" put out in '87.

I have switched back and forth across the whole thing trying to review any hints of any keyboards adding to their mix, and I'm pretty sure a couple of tracks or so did have them. Is this a sign of things to come for TSY? Who knows. It keeps me on my toes, though, so that is something good for me. The lyrical themes touch on desolation, emptiness, and alienation. Some very common human emotions that ordinary folks feel. And as honest as they are, the band also subtly kicks major label and mainstream, corpotarate entities' asses by sticking to their guns and consistently playing hardcore and punk shows, as opposed to playing le bourgeois shows plagued by trust fund kids looking to cash in on their next big discoveroes. TSY continues to release their music independently, with help from independent labels. They control their work. They do the band on their own terms and conditions. And that really is something I honestly respect. These band members have been former players inthe Powerviolence, Punk, Hardcore, Indie & Alternative music scenes from 2 decades back so they are, by and large scene vets, so to speak. I am not gonna see this band play any kind of Pulp or Wanderland shows in the imminent future.

When I hear a band and obbsess about them, I want to hear something new every time. The Skeleton Years manages to do it naturally with "In Memoriam". This is definitely making it to my recommended To-Buy lists of 2017.  Add a little darkness to your Christmas.

The Skeleton Years is

Darwin Dacanay - Vocals

Sharen De Guzman - Guitar

Ebong Liñan - Guitar

Marivic Liñan - Bass

Charles Villanueva - Drums

All Songs Written By Darwin Dacanay

Musical Arrangement by The Skeleton Years

Drum Tracks Recorded at Cherry Studio

Recorded Mixed & Mastered at Loud Carrot Recordings by Dave Usi

Album Cover & Design by Charles Villanueva

Produced By The Skeleton Years, Dave Usi & Still Ill 2017

PPS - Two words yung "Dark Wave", mmmkay?

Go watch the show, message the band and order all three of their releases. Tell 'em some lazy, dinosaur, old-ass blog said so.

Stalk the band at: FB

Bandcamp

The Skeleton Years - Pieces Of Recovery

REVIEW: The Skeleton Years - "Pieces Of Recovery"

As a reviewer, this proves to be a challenging feat for me as half of this band are extremely good buddies of mine and I must admit to being biased. A great deal. But I have tried for the past couple of hours to listen with the intent to understand, enjoy, and review. (yes, in that order.) And the fact remains that on this 7-track care package, there simply isn't any filler and the songs have me thoroughly enjoying what I hear. The Skeleton Years, who formed sometime in 2012, initially released their first 7-song EP, "Between Lunacy & You" back in July 2013. In such a short span of time, we now find the band more than ready to give us their second 7-song EP, titled Pieces Of Recovery" which sees them launching a series of shows this October to get their new music out.

"Awkward" starts off as an acoustic jam, with a different flavor on the guitar work, which I suspected was not traditionally how Ebong and Sharen play. Turns out I was right all along as this "unique" guitar-playing style was lent by none other than Banat Boys' Paga Manikan. It is a perfect match, though, and sets the mood for the rest of the record. Reminiscent of a Skiba-led band, "Beginnings" puts me back to the familiar sound I knew the band from, on their first EP, though my musing would seem to be an isolated case for this song, as for the rest of the EP, the band have finally managed to capture a sound I would call as their own, which, in itself is a feat that's difficult for new bands to execute. "Make Up, Break Up" is a fucking reincarnation of an old Richard Collier fave. Did anyone say redux? The TSY flavor they injected on this cover is amazingly fresh, and, in some way, is different from just a plain cover, in terms of arrangement. This becomes a problem for me as I love both Richard Collier's original version and this treatment they have given it. So now I love both versions. "Discarded" is a really cryptic tune, leaning heavily on the edge of their goth/post punk roots. "Turn Away" has Paga Manikan lending additional drum programming duties this time. This cut can easily be TSY's poppiest, but if you know the bandmembers themselves, then you know they will never subscribe to anything "pop"-media related. TSY has strong DIY roots and I would love to see them keep it that way. An acoustic version of this cut is hidden as an unlisted last track on this EP. I just fuckin' love the soaring guitar solos in "Closure", which had been another favorite of mine early on as I had been hearing this track played live for it was one of the early songs they played after releasing their last EP, and I immediately took a liking, nay, a craving for this song live whenever I go catch TSY perform.

There comes a time in everyone's life, that, after breaking up with your partner, wallowing in your own sorrow for an extended period of time, you finally conquer and shut off your inner demons, and exorcise that nasty motherfucker out of your system. You get up, get dressed, leave your room, go out, cigarette lit, and walk off into the night, eager to start your next adventure. Upon hearing Darwin scream and sing his songs with that tad bit of pain and the wounded, struggling fighter in him slowly surfacing amongst the strain of his voice, you know The Skeleton Years have traveled their pieces of recovery fully well.  

Another stellar effort for The Skeleton Years. And If you are looking for honest music from a hardworking band who have soldiered on in their own little way, sans the glam of hipster magnet, corporate sponsored, chopsuey-arena rock shows, (TSY has played only DIY shows if my memory serves me right..) raising the Sucat "Mabangong Punks" flag defiantly. I declare this a must for any self-respecting post punkers, new wavers, goths, and plain old romantic fools. Call it genre-bender if you will, but this is a must for my collection. 

Because Charles, Sharen, Ebong, Mavic, and Darwin.

Now go tell your friends to get this.

They launch this new EP on Saturday 10/11 at BKB, West Avenue, Quezon City, and Saturday, 10/18 at IDB Bar, Sucat, Parañaque. You have to go.

The Skeleton Years on Facebook:
The Skeleton Years on Bandcamp:

The Skeleton Years - Between Lunacy And You

REVIEW: The Skeleton Years - Between Lunacy And You 

With today's bombardment of mediocre, sub-par, unengaging punk rock bands ruling the social media worldwide, It comes as a refreshing breath of fresh air when one is served with the perfect execution of what a good band sounds like. The Skeleton Years launches its debut offering in the form of a 7-song EP. I was lucky that after countless months of pestering the band members, they finally gave in and gave me an advance copy of this release.

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for New Wave and Punk Rock, and worship both genres with unscaled fervor. and these are equally encompassed by the music The Skeleton Years play. They pull it off amazingly without any hints of trying too hard (or without really trying at all, as I see it).

The cd cover sets the mood for TSY's music, having that dark red & black theme. Kicking off with their first track "Abandon", replete with their trademark fuzzy guitars guitar sound. I guess this version is a wee bit slower than their first demo recording. "Through" starts off with a playful drum-guitar alternate that takes you to their punk rock chorus. I'm not entirely sure that "Control" was a nod to Joy Division and was done on purpose but I'd love to think it was. The tune even starts with an intro that leans heavily on their JD influence. I can picture "Dead Night" being an anthem for young kids everywhere, the tune is catchy, but still with that dark haunting flavor that is inherently TSY's. I love how the two guitars sound like they are fucking flirting with each other. I gotta admit, without knowing TSY, I would've thought I was hearing "Simple" straight out of a Matt Skiba record. Or it could just be that I'm still unfamiliar with this track at all, as this was never released prior to this EP. Hands down, "Fade" has become my favorite on this EP. It has all the qualities of the band shining bright against the darkness of this release. This Ep treats us too with a demo version of "Abandon" added for good measure.

I don't even know how relevant the member's former bands were (I'd say not at all), but I do not care that some smart-ass babies throw accusations that TSY sounds like what their individual former bands sounded like. Just a thought, If you put Chris Cornell in Temple Of The Dog, Soundgarden, Audioslave, and whatever else band he used to front, he sure as hell sounds a lot like how Chris Cornell sounds, doesn't he?!?! It is not rocket science, fellas. This is an entirely new entity, and as such, they are called The Skeleton Years. 

Let me wrap it up by stating for a fact that "Between Lunacy And You" should be one (if not the only one) of the best EPs to come out this year, and is a perfect example of what new bands ought to prioritize first, because, frankly, you start a band to play music for the love of it and not to have your own clothing line of band name merchandise, yes? The only gripe I have on this release is that seven songs left me wanting more, and this early, I am already expecting a fuckin' full length from TSY. Do the right thing and get this EP from the band, support independent recordings. Be a part of your favorite band's life.. Because I said so.

Release show happening here:

contact the band @: The Skeleton Years