Review: Armory Infirmary – “Rest EP”

ARTIST: ARMORY INFIRMARY

ALBUM: REST EP

RELEASE DATE: 1/24/13

GENRE: MELODIC HARDCORE

RATING: 9/10

Rest is Armory Infirmary’s first release as the “real” lineup, as front man Jonathan Crossland recently described the current Armory Infirmary lineup. Rest sees the band taking a turn to the heavier side with the songwriting reaching a new level.

  On past releases, it would have been hard to describe Armory Infirmary as anything other than a fairly generic local band. On Rest, however, the quartet has written five catchy, heavily melodic songs of the highest caliber. “Fraud” and “Departed” are two of the heaviest songs in the Indian Valley group’s discography; heavy breakdowns and outstanding vocals accompanying the heaviest bass yet make the disk’s first two tracks solid songs.

The first two tracks on the album are solid, but the final three are what take Rest from a good release to an outstanding release. “Perfector” features Crossland’s vicious growls finding a pleasant harmony with guitarist Tanner Detwiler’s clean vocals over a driving rhythm section led by bassist Gill Gonzalez and drummer Sean Rudolph. “Rest” is readymade for live shows, its melodic guitar and scream-it-at-the-top-of-your-lungs breakdown complementing heartfelt lyrics. “Keeper” closes the album in grand fashion, returning to the heaviness of the EP’s beginning while keeping it melodic at the same time, its lyrics some of the most memorable on the album.

Armory Infirmary has crafted an excellent release with Rest. A refreshing blend of heaviness and melody, it will likely be seen for years to come as the turning point in the band’s career.