L.M.I.

L.M.I. are a Stoner/Punk/Hardcore Band dealing in fast-paced riffs that packs an almighty punch. Their debut album – Sleepwalker is mish-mash of ideas and noises that will take a few listens to fully experience. As the band have a style that is very hard to describe. When I first listened to the album I couldn't get to grips with the overall sound and style of the album. But soon after I started to really enjoy this album in a big way.

My advice – Just sit back and enjoy the ride as these Stoner Metallers have a lot to say and do it with style. The first two tracks – Rats Nest and Gutter King – setup the scene superbly well. Blazing guitars matched with the pissed off vocals of front man – Will. He oozes confidence from the start as his vocals have a grizzled hardcore punk edge that makes this album very dangerous indeed.

By the time 4th track – Rag Doll – comes blasting onto your speaks you're either going to love this band with open arms or run to the hills. There is no in-between with L.M.I. Embrace the craziness as the band feel a bit schizophrenic at times but it works to the albums favour. Who says that music has to be so straight forward.

You may think that I don't like the album. I don't. I think it's great. I am just trying to explain it's a bit different compared to other Punk/Hardcore based Stoner Metal albums. I think this album is superb as it shows the band playing by their own rules and they don't give a fuck what anybody thinks.

The only complaint I have is with the track – In The Blue. A hazy psychedelic bluesy punk rock number that really doesn't go anywhere. It disrupts the flow of the album. But things soon get back to normal with the albums later tracks of rocking the hell out with more crazy riffs being played at an intense pace.

Now I should of said earlier of who produced this album as the album sounds superb through out. Philip Cope of Kylesa fame has produced this album. So it's good enough for Philip then it should be good enough for you to check these guys out. As L.M.I. are definitely worth checking out.

Sleepwalker is one very strange beast indeed. It will frustrate and entertain you in equal measure. If you want something different to check out then L.M.I. is the band for you.

An intense wild ride that you won't easily forget.

Excellent and Highly Recommended. - The Sludgelord

A few months back I received an email tip about Lansdale’s L.M.I and to check out their new album “Sleepwalker.” I gave it a few listens and initially whether I wasn’t in a particular mood at the time to give an accurate review or I had other things that were more pressing to do for the site, it took till now to get to actually sit down and give it a fair listen. To be honest, initially I didn’t know what to think about the album as whole, but it’s absolutely an album that pushes boundaries and styles to the next level so after a few listens it grew on me. To be honest, it’s how most records become my favorite albums of all time!

“Sleepwalker” offers up a strong, grungy, progressive, metallic blend of genres with a stoner perspective. Their overall sound is very ominous, mysterious and intriguing. The guitars have a raging boner over their chorus effects, but when they rock it has a very hardcore, punk, hi-gain sound, the drums can be punishing or severely laid back, the bass fills the pocket perfectly and the vocals are a corrosive, raspy punk style that completely SLAY! The album has this schizophrenic, dichotomy between the punk, metal parts and a druggier slower sound.

The album starts off with “Rats Nest” thats a slow, waking of the beast with just a clean guitar that has heavy effects to introduce the album. Firestorm of a track “Gutter King” comes in full force and in your face that truly kicks the album off in a awesome kind of way. “Sleeping Machine” starts off with a real stoner vibe and then kicks into overdrive with one hell of a chorus. This song fucking rules! If you skip tracks on an album play this one first because it’s my favorite track! “Rag Doll” starts off real slow and progressively the intensity of this song grows until it gets real grungy and then their prog side comes out. This track shows how as musicians how they can throw the traditional song structure to the wind and write an awesome track! Breaking up the whole album is the eerily, strange and slow “In The Blue.” This song almost has a road trip gone bad in the desert kind of sound. I’m not completely sure why it has that affect on me, but it’s probably the best way I can describe it. “Waiting on Melted Wax” is a straight rocker! This song picks up the album perfectly after the last slow jam and gets right back up in your face with almost arabic guitar leads and somewhere in-between a metal song and that signature NYC punk sound. “Endless Circles” follows with the same sort of intensity, but the chorus on this song is completely killer and catchy as fuck! Showing a bit more of their metallic side, “Destitute” is a fucking killer track that rocks hard as hell with different sounding guitar riffs that wounldn’t work for any other band! Breaking out an all out punk assault “The Web” is fast, hardcore and totally killer. Finally, “Take and Continue” breaks out another awesome hardcore, punk track to complete this album that stylistically is all over the place yet still sounds like L.M.I.

Overall, L.M.I killed it on “Sleepwalker!” They have a few shows coming up in other cities, but when they’re back in town we’ll be sure to let you know. You can get their CD on their bandcamp or just download the MP3s either way it’s the same price! Definitely a recommended band for their ability to rock and weird out at the same time! Check out the tracks digitally below and get stoked on these guys! - Radio Static

Lansdale punk trio L.M.I. played a killer set at North Philly’s The Nest this past Saturday, blaring through tracks off their most recent release, Sleepwalker. Their take on hardcore punk brings in lyrics that reflect on day-to-day society and moments where the instrumentals feel just as dissonant as their ideas, among the more straightforward riffs and hooks. The vocals flawlessly switched between the loud & raspy and the clean & eerie, and being backed by big muffed guitar and bass and hard-hitting drums made it an impressive set. Check out photos below and stream Sleepwalker here. - Philly Punk