Known to most fans of the contemporary punk/hardcore scene as one of the promising young bands that break the genre’s clichés, Modern Life Is War are coming back on the map with their current release, aptly named “Midnight in America”.
For a band raised by the Iowa landscapes, it’s a title that provokes curiosity in the listener’s mind. A closer look will reveal even stranger names of songs like “Fuck the Sex Pistols” and “Night Shift at the Potato Factory”. What is this? Taking the piss? Are these guys playing weirdos? Are they attention seekers? Well, not at all. At least they say so. It’s just their way of expressing a lifestyle, so uncommon for us Europeans, that it becomes interesting in a very sick way.
What’s more, MLIW are not your typical run of the mill verse and chorus band. They escape classic song structures and abandon breakdowns, as these contain some virus that can spoil the music. And to be honest, in this case it surely can. We are talking of original music here, exploiting the themes of media saturation, war and dark aspects of country “Americana” life.
Mixed feelings about all those, splattered in the form of chaotic riffs and cannonball drum pieces, make you unsure about making your own statement about a record like this. It’s not easy to listen or to get used to it, but I assume it’s a grower and every time you put it, you’re expected to explore more well hidden messages and subliminal sounds. Not for everyone, but essential for all those who like music brutal, honest and intelligent.