Review: Diamond Youth – Shake (2014)

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Diamond Youth is one of those bands I remember being very excited about upon first hearing about them. I mean, here we have an indie band made up of members from Down to Nothing and Trapped Under Ice, two very popular hardcore bands. So yes, the initial response was a good one.  So naturally, I listen to the EP and I’m blown away. So good. Yep this band is going to do well. A year later they release another EP, again I enjoy what I hear. They even were covered by MTV.com at this point.  And they are doing some good tours, so things are going well for the band. They decide to release another EP, Shake.

I’m a fan of growth and changing but this EP is not at all like the first two. That feeling of awesomeness this band once had is gone. I kind of get the feeling this was a little rushed. Over the past few years all they have done is tour and release music. It has one of those sounds that you, the listener will respond by saying “I have heard this before.”   After a few listens it became very clear what sound I was hearing. Diamond Youth is another band trying to cash in on this 90s alt rock sound that is slowly taking over punk rock. Bands like Basement, Title Fight, Daylight and Citizen have done well with it but these guys are still trying to find their place. At points this could be a tribute album to Queens of the Stone Age and even Stone Temple Pilots.  The opening track, “Red Water” sounds like it would fit on any of the earlier QOTSA albums, right down to the vocals.  “Warm Scene” reminds me of STP right from the start. And not good STP either.

This is a band I want to like. I really enjoyed their first two Eps and thought the future was bright for them. Maybe it still is and this is their not so good album. All bands have them, well maybe not all – Thursday and AFI don’t. But most bands do. I am willing to keep listening to this album simply because there is talent here.

Score: 2/5

Buy the EP on iTunes. Like the band on Facebook.

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