Album Review // LADDERS // February

Self-released

4/5 stars

Post-hardcore is alive and well in Erie. Or maybe it's good old-fashioned rock and roll. Who's to say? Whatever it is, LADDERS (featuring this publication's very own Nick Warren on bass) brings it in spades on their debut EP, February. Recorded by Sam Donahue of Penny Racer, the band's distorted blend of grit and hooks comes through loud and clear here, echoing the beloved sounds of Eyeball Records circa the early aughts, from Thursday and My Chemical Romance to Every Time I Die and even shades of The Gaslight Anthem.

Throughout much of the release, the band seems to have two modes: successful thrash propelled by frontman Rob Seaman's signature howl (opening tracks "Ashes" and "Better Off"), and even more successful riff-driven tunes that border on pop-punk (single "Lately," "Lower Them Shields"). Perhaps most promising, February seems to capture the energy of the band's well-known live set, a hurdle many independent bands never seem to quite get over. With any luck, the reception to LADDERS' recorded music will be just as positive, lending itself to even more energetic performances and tighter recordings in the future.