Reviewed by Rachel Faylene
Notably loud and exuberant, A Place to Bury Strangers has created a transitional EP that takes us from the rambunctious, off the walls musicianship to a more refined version of itself. The growling 16 minutes of Onwards to the Wall is nothing short of synchronized chaos; an explosion of timing and structure that is pushing their creativity to adulthood.
Toe-tapping, accompanied by inconspicuous head nodding, deems appropriate for “So Far Away” and “Onwards to the Wall.” Both tracks could pass as a time out session after the screeching thunder of “I Lost You.” They give you a moment to enjoy the dark pop sounds that the group has to offer and allow you to prepare for the return of the high energy and fast tempo that APTBS is best known for. “Nothing Will Surprise Me” turns up the volume and passes the torch to “Drill It Up,” where everything turns into a distressed sonic boom and reminds you why you’re listening to the EP in the first place.
While each song plays with a definition that their previous works lack, fans still adore the cloudy reverb and free-for-all instrumentation that APTBS is known for. Onwards to the Wall is a hint of what is to come next for these guys. It is an evolution of the music and group themselves unfolding before our eyes and ears.
Add Onwards to the Wall to your playlist when it releases Tuesday, February 7, and catch them on tour in the months to come. Watch video here.
U.S. Tour Dates:
03/07/12 Pittsburgh, PA - Shadow Lounge w/ Saint Motel, Slingshot Genius
03/08/12 Toledo, OH - Frankies w/ Big Black Delta
03/09/12 Iowa City, IA - Gabes
03/11/12 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
03/12/12 San Francisco, CA - Independent w/ The Joy Formidable
03/13/12 San Francisco, CA - Independent w/ The Joy Formidable
03/14/12 Los Angeles, CA - The Music Box w/ The Joy Formidable
03/17/12 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater w/ The Joy Formidable
03/18/12 Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre w/ Battle Ship Gray
03/19/12 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Music Cafe w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
03/20/12 Madison, WI - Majestic Theatre w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
03/21/12 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle w/ Apteka
03/22/12 Bloomington, IN - The Bluebird w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
03/23/12 Cincinnati, OH - 20th Century Theatre w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
03/24/12 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
03/25/12 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
03/26/12 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
03/28/12 New York, NY - Terminal 5 w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
03/29/12 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
03/30/12 Boston, MA - Paradise w/ The Joy Formidable, Exitmusic
View full tour schedule, including non-U.S. dates