With only nineteen songs released the four members that make Night Verses (Douglas Robinson –Vocals, Nick DePirro–Guitar, Reilly Herrera–Bass, Aric Improta – Drums), have put together a stronger catalogue than some bands who’ve done twice as many and have been going for decades. This shows what an impressive group of musicians they are. Originally named The Sound Archives hailing from Fullerton, California the band originally consisted of DePirro, Herrera and Improta. But after being really impressed by them at a charity gig Robinson (former singer for The Sleeping) asked to become the vocalist.
The move was one that was made in heaven as it were. Being a fan of Robinson’s former group I know just how good a singer he is. With the band complete they got into the studio to record their first EP, Out of the Sky soon after the line-up was completed and was self-released via the Night Verses website on a free download. The four tracks run a total time of 18:51 seconds. It showed what the band could do; all the songs are sonically captivating. The opener From the Shadows Where I’m Low has you from the first echoed drum beat. Then going into an intricate guitar line and the bass comes in pounding along melodically. But then it kicks in to the chorus (without vocals). Then after this everything but the clean fantastic guitar plays and you get to hear Robinson’s vocals. After a few verses and choruses, it all breaks down and changes.
This part was for me where I realised that Night Verses were a very special band. A great guitar riff is played by Nick DePirro but cleverly it sounds like they are playing it from far away, so when the rest of the band join in it really hits you. Here Robinson shows how he can become an aggressive vocalist and it all locks together to create this masterpiece. The third track Be Happy With Yourself, I’m Staying Here in Hell is a brilliant emotional song. It really does connect with me for some reason again a quality that few bands possess. Out of the Sky was critically acclaimed winning the Extended Play of the year accolade from Punktastic’s Readers Awards. The building hype led to a UK tour with the Scottish Earth Rock band Flood of Red. Plus a slot on the Rock Sound Stage at the Hevy Music Festival that same year, alongside legendary New York hardcore band Madball. As all this was taking place Night Verses where working on their planned long play debut.
With an approximate 50 songs in the mix for the album the band had a lot of thinking and debating ahead of them. On the fifth day of 2013 the band headed into the Interlace Audio studio yet again with Kris Crummett, to begin crafting the album. First off the album has 15 songs. This move shows how bold the band is, they wanted to put fifteen songs together and so they did. In a climate where 10 tracks is the status quo, I would of have been perfectly content with 10 songs but the extra effort resulted in an eminence first album that has cemented itself as one of my favourite albums ever. With great melodies throughout mixed with heavier aspects, Night Verses are one of the few bands that pull the combination off to stunning affect. The great single Celestial Fires is just the tip of the iceberg to what kind of band Night Verses are. The musicianship is special, the band gel together so well. This record is a perfect example of why it is worth getting together with likeminded people in a small cramped room, getting sweaty and just playing your hearts out, resulting in an outstanding album that is overflowing with top music. It is emotional, full of riffs and beautiful melodies. Lift Your Existence was distributed on June 25th by Easy Killer (US) and via Southworld in the UK a month later. It was extremely well received both in North America and overseas. So much so that the recording was considered a contender for Album of the Year on various sites and music magazines.
As of September 10th this year Night Verses signed with Equal Vision/Graphic Nature records and have started to record the follow up album. With Ross Robinson producing who has worked with The Cure, Slipknot, Fear Factory, Korn, Deaftons and Klaxons. With the band saying that the new album will have more experimentation and a darker ambience than Lift Your Existnece.
Night Verses are easily one of the best bands to have hit the music scene in the last three years, and I am not scarred to say that there will not be many bands in this decade to rival their musical prowess. Check ‘Em Out.
