 Band: Never
the Less
Album: "Through the Night" Released: 2000 on Boot to Head Records Review: Adolfo Underfoot
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| Never the Less has to be, hands down, one of the most underated bands
in the FL scene. Despite the fact that these boys from St. Petersburg have
packed shows in halls of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the State Theatre
to DIY Records, not as much as a whisper is uttered about them outside
of Central FL. I had never even heard of them until one day, around the
time I was taking submissions for the "God Save the Scene" compilation,
when I got this little enevlope in the mail which included a 10 song demo
for a band called Never the Less.
About two weeks ago I recived another package in the mail from a Trevor Garvey (singer of Never the Less), and quickly opening it I found enclosed within Never the Less's long awaited full length album. It was one of those things that just makes your day. Well, on to the album review. For those who have never heard Never the Less, they resemble punk in the vein of Good Riddance and No Use For a Name, but without the lame ass songwriting (more so common in the latter). I've heard people also say that they have a touch of Bad Religion, but Im not sure that I would agree except to say that many of their songs carry a serious tone, not to be mistaken with somber. These guys don't compromise what they're doing for a single track on this record, setting the pace with the very first track and hitting you again and again with a barrage of melodic firepower. Aside from the skilled guitar work and the pounding drums (which work with tight precision), my favorite element of this band is the vocal style, which acts as the prime factor seperating Never the Less from all other synonymous bands. Trevor delivers with an intensity like no other and acts as both the catalyst and the capstone. While similar bands sing about fun and games, Never the Less sings about the reality behind life, and how perhaps it isn't all just fun and games. "Through the Night" works more like an autobiographical story than it does a debut album, telling the trials of a group of individuals throughout the years. Never the Less takes you on a journey through the first 20 odd years or so of their lives, through violence, drugs, life, death, friendship, foundation and salvation, and in the end our boys make it home. This definetly promises to be one of the top 10 local albums released this year, and may very well be what finally gives Never the Less widespread attention. I truly see this band going far. Maybe they won't reach mega stardom, but be warned, this isn't the last you've heard of this band, not by a longshot. Never the Less sounds enough like things you've heard before to grant them some attention, but combines enough of their own touch to guarantee they hold it. Neither the band, nor this album, deserve to be missed. - Adolfo Underfoot |
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