''Bretton'' is the first EP by British
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band
Lower Than Atlantis
Lower Than Atlantis were an English rock band from Watford, Hertfordshire. They formed in 2007 as a hardcore punk band and gradually shifted into a rock sound over five studio albums, their last being 2017's '' Safe in Sound''. The band consiste ...
, released in 2008.
Background and production
Lower Than Atlantis formed in August 2007 in Watford,
[''Rhythm'' 2009] while the members were attending college. Guitarist Ben Sansom asked guitarist Mike Duce if he wished to form a band with Ben's brother Luke, who would provide vocals.
[Patashnik 2013, p. 60] Alongside them was bassist Richard Wilkinson and drummer Matt Britz. In April 2008, the group signed to Small Town Records, with whom they were aiming to release their forthcoming EP through. Following line-up changes,
[ such as the addition of drummer Joshua Pickett, bassist Stephen Minter,][ and Duce becoming the band's frontman,][Patashnik 2013, p. 61] they began working on what would become their first EP, ''Bretton''.[
All of the songs on ''Bretton'' were written by Lower Than Atlantis, with lyrics by Duce and Luke Sansom.][ Duce taught himself how to sing and play guitar at the same time while playing along to the band's ''Demo 2007'' release.][Patashnik 2013, p. 62] Pickett had been playing the drums for eight years, naming Abe Cunningham
Abraham Benjamin Cunningham (born July 27, 1973) is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the alternative metal band Deftones.
Life and career
Abe Cunningham was born in Long Beach, California. When he was young, his family moved ...
from Deftones
Deftones is an American alternative metal band formed in Sacramento, California in 1988. They were formed by Chino Moreno (vocals, guitar), Stephen Carpenter (guitar), Abe Cunningham (drums), and Dominic Garcia (bass). During their first five ...
as a main inspiration.[ However, Matt Britz had written and recorded the drum parts for ''Bretton''.][ Jeff and Ginge recorded the EP at The Pill Studios in Newport.][ Matt Tuck produced the entire proceedings.][ Tom Woodstock mastered the EP at The Roof Studios.][
]
Release and reception
''Bretton'' was released on 18 October 2008 through Small Town Records, before being released through Thirty Days of Night on 19 December 2008. The artwork was done by Liam Flaherty Design.[ A music video was filmed for "The Juggernaut", it was directed by Daniel Seecharan. It was shot on a low budget.][ Partway through the touring cycle for the EP, the band had several line-up changes, eventually leaving them with only vocalist/guitarist Mike Duce and guitarist Ben Sansom.]Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music and a genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues and is focused generally on electric guitars and vocals. Author Scott B. Bomar speculat ...
".[ They claimed that "]Rock 'n roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...
-infused post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. It was initially inspired by post-punk and noise rock. Like post-punk, the term has been ...
just got some new superheroes."[Sharples ed., 2009, p. 30] Reviewing for ''Rhythm'', Chris Barnes called the EP "a monster of technical music" with "low-slung grooves, odd time and intense riffs."[ In a retrospective review, Ben Patashnik of '']Rock Sound
''Rock Sound'' is a British magazine that covers rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, while also giving coverage to better-known acts. It generally focuses on pop punk, post-hardcore, metalcore, punk, e ...
'' described the EP's sound as "youthful, jagged hardcore
Hardcore, hard core or hard-core may refer to:
Arts and media Film
* ''Hardcore'' (1977 film), a British comedy film
* ''Hardcore'' (1979 film), an American crime drama film starring George C Scott
* ''Hardcore'' (2001 film), a British documen ...
", bearing "little resemblance" to the band's later material.[ Concluding with the band's "wit shone through the short, sharp blasts of noise."][
]
Track listing
All songs written by Lower Than Atlantis. All lyrics written by Mike Duce and Luke Sansom.[
#"March of the LTA" – 0:58
#"Frankie Goes to Hemel" – 2:56
#"The Juggernaut" – 3:14
#"Sleeping in the Bath" – 3:11
#"Bretton" – 2:40
#"I Hate Comic Sans" – 0:24
#"What a Beautiful Day to Impersonate an Officer" – 2:56
#"Vampires Suck, Blood" – 3:25
]
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.
References
; Citations
;Sources
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{{Authority control
2008 EPs
Lower Than Atlantis EPs