Review by Shannon Shumaker
Frank Iero and the Patience have been touring non-stop since the release of Parachutes nearly a year ago, but sometime in the midst of an insanely busy eleven months, the band found the time to pen Keep The Coffins Coming, a short but sweet EP that perfectly bridges the gap between their 2016 release and Stomachaches. Following the release of their 2014 debut album, Frank Iero and the Patience have become a different band entirely (seriously, they even go by a different name now) but Keep The Coffins Coming does a great job at filling in those empty spaces – it’s the missing link, as Iero calls it.
Fans will recognize the EP’s opening track, “I’m A Mess” from Parachutes, and although there aren’t many massive changes between the two versions of the song, the newer track does seem to pack a bit more of a punch than the original. Stunning vocal harmonies shine through hard-hitting guitar and drums, and when the bass hook hits, it really hits. For Keep The Coffins Coming, Iero had the chance to work with his long-time idol, the legendary Steve Albini, and the product of their collaboration can definitely be heard in the more refined quality of this version of “I’m A Mess.” That’s not to say that it isn’t messy and aggressive, though – it wouldn’t be a Frank Iero track if it wasn’t.
Following “I’m A Mess” is more simplistic and repetitive, “BFF.” Where the first song really kicks off the EP with high energy, “BFF” slows things down, but never once loses that messy, gritty sound that fans have come to expect from the band. The song hosts catchy guitar work that takes the lead over Iero’s emotive vocals – it’s something you’ll find yourself humming long after it comes to an end.
If high energy is more your style, then “BFF” probably won’t be your favorite song on the EP, but the raw, “No Fun Club” certainly will be. Taking a step away from the previous song, this track is one minute and thirty-four seconds of noisy, messy and chaotic imperfection. Iero’s screams are almost unintelligible, which contrasts heavily with “BFF” and the following cover of “You Are My Sunshine” that leaves you hanging on for more.
Within four songs, Frank Iero and the Patience not only give fans a glimpse into their dynamic range, but also successfully bridge the gap between their raw debut release and the more carefully crafted Parachutes. Frank Iero and the Patience don’t take themselves too seriously on this release (the band jokingly refers to themselves as “Frank Iero and the Patients” on the artwork, in light of their accident in Sydney last year) and these songs are easy to imagine hearing in a sweaty, overcrowded venue – and something tells me that’s exactly what they’d want.
LISTEN TO “No Fun Club”
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