Post-Hardcore Supergroup L.S. Dunes Returns with Sophomore Effort, Violet
Artist: L.S. Dunes
Album: Violet
Record Label: Fantasy Recordings
L.S. Dunes were born in a time where the music industry was at it’s most challenged point. A global pandemic had struck, causing fear, panic and isolation throughout the world. Many artists, sadly, succumbed to this wound but others rose above the challenge, creating some of the most poignant and impactful music of their careers. It’s honestly quite interesting where one can find their most inspiration. However, L.S. Dunes is a supergroup of masterful proportions, bred from the womb of some of the most respected and revered bands in the scene. The whispers of their entrance into the music scene began shortly before their seminal performance at Riot Fest in 2022. Three singles later and they had shocked the post-hardcore scene with just how inventive and imaginative their music was. However, there was something that fell short within the release of their debut album, Past Lives. A sign of the times it was crafted in, it was rife with depression, angst and was overly dark in tone. While many clung to it in desperation to get them through the times, others found it off-putting it and created a chasm to separate themselves from it. Taking everything they learned within their first tour and an overall desire to create something more hopeful, Violet was born and stands tall where it’s predecessor may have fallen short.
Violet takes a moment with each track, however brief, to display the individual talents of the band. Opening with an acapella verse from Green in “Like Magick” before fluidly moving into a slow, groovy chorus that has a strong, clear bass line. Towards the end of the track, we hear a soaring guitar solo that slowly builds into Green’s vocals. While there isn’t much I can say that hasn’t been said about this man’s vocal talent, I think “Like Magick” rivals for my favorite Anthony Green vocal, thus far. There’s just something about hearing his raw, isolated vocals that sends shivers down the spine. We have a track like “Machines,” where the bass line takes hold of the song from the beginning. This track has some fuzz rock elements and feels reminiscent of late 80s rock but with a new edge to it. The album ends with “Forgiveness” which will call attention to Stever’s guitar melody, underlying the chorus, even though the drums demand your attention, as well. While each track has it’s own meaning, to be interpreted by the listener, I think the album as a whole symbolizes what it’s like to be human. As humans, we love, we lose, we dream and we fall. Each track ebbs and flows into one another, with little effort and none feels out of place. In fact, if you were to change a single note to these songs, they wouldn’t be as beautiful as they’ve become. Creating a breath of fresh air and atmosphere in the stagnant nature of post-hardcore music and pushing the envelope, as never before.
Violet is a beautiful rebirth, both in sound and nature. This band, in all of their many projects, has never sounded better individually than they do on this release. I imagine cranking this album up and driving down a dimly lit highway. I imagine a beautiful sunset over the water, with this record as its soundtrack. Most of all, I imagine a very bright future for this band… only two releases in and each being polar opposites to one another? The sky is the limit! Close your eyes, throw this album on and soak in Violet. The album is out now on Fantasy Recordings and you can get it through the links below. The band is currently on tour supporting Rise Against in Europe and will return to the US to embark on a headline tour, beginning in Austin, TX on April 8th before wrapping up with a performance on Coheed & Cambria’s SS Neverender Cruise, November 8th-13th in Miami, FL. Tickets to all aforementioned dates can be purchased using the link below!
“Forgiveness” (Official Music Video)
“Violet” (Official Music Video)
“Machines” (Official Music Video)
L.S. Dunes is:
Anthony Green – Vocals
Frank Iero – Guitar
Tim Payne – Bass
Travis Stever – Guitar
Tucker Rule – Drums
Visit L.S. Dunes on Social Media:
Official Website | Facebook | Instagram
Get tickets to see L.S. Dunes on tour
| Upcoming Tour Dates w/Rise Against:
2/2 – Paris, FR @ L’Olympia 2/4 – Tilburg, NL @ O13 2/5 – Brussels, BE @ Forest National 2/6 – London, UK@ O2 Academy Brixton 2/8 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Victoria Warehouse 2/9 – Birmingham, UK @ O2 Academy 1 2/12 – Berlin, DE @ Velodrom 2/14 – Dusseldorf, DE @ Mitsubishi Electric Halle 2/15 – Hamburg, DE @ Sporthalle 2/17 – Munich, DE @ Zenith 2/18 – Frankfurt, DE @ Jahrhunderthalle 2/19 – Frankfurt, DE @ Jahrhunderthalle 2/22 – Zurich, CH @ Komplex457 2/23 – Vienna, AT @ Stadthalle |
Upcoming Headline Tour Dates: 4/8 – Austin, TX @ The Parish # 4/9 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues # 4/11 – Atlanta, GA @ CenterStage # 4/12 – Nashville, TN @ Basement East # 4/14 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage ** 4/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts ** 4/16 – Boston, MA @ Sinclair ** 4/18 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes ** 4/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw ** 4/21 – Buffalo, NY @ Electric City ** 4/22 – Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground ** 4/23 – Detroit, MI @ Shelter ** 4/25 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar & 4/26 – Chicago, IL @ Outset & 4/28 – St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam & 4/29 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre & 5/1 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater & 5/2 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge & 5/5 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Showroom & 5/6 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre & 5/8 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 & 5/9 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco & 5/10 – San Diego, CA @ Music Box & 5/11 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom & # – Derek Zanetti ** – Night Sins & – Plague Vendor |
