Lipona
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Lipona

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"Review of Atlas"

God bless Lipona. God bless living up to expectations. God bless coming through in the clutch. Atlas is everything I hoped this band could create. And I’ll admit, for me, this is more like a second EP since every song from Urbi Et Orbi shows up on Atlas (with the exception of "Mistaken"). However, the new songs continue forward with the band’s high-speed, highly melodic punk rock. Yamil Velez’s vocals sound just as meaty and just as passionate. His lyrics are down-to-earth and meaningful outside the restraints of some loud song. The most alarming part about this whole scenario, though, is that once again I find myself without any catchy quips or bullshit metaphors. I take these songs seriously. I take them too seriously. It’s a feeling I will learn to love, because there are too many young bands out there like Lipona giving me unyielding amounts of faith in music. There will be time to verbally jack off those bands later; right now is Lipona’s time to shine.

The LP begins with a new song that threw me for a loop due to its acoustic guitar intro. Velez’s voice is far off and distorted. He’s in a coffee shop? Huh? Luckily I worried for nothing as the full band pulls out their shotguns and unloads stuttering riffs and large build-ups. The new songs also add intermittent screams, which could be seen by some as a mistake, but the band saves them for moments when it would almost be ridiculous if there wasn’t a little force. Next on the new list are "Pressure" and the awesomely-titled "Ron Mexico." "Pressure" is considerably slower than most of Lipona’s songs, but its pulsing riffs add an unexpected groove element. Also surprising is the section of rolling drum fills that segues into a dark blue bubble of sound. Punk rock records don’t usually take the time to create flexible atmospheres, but Atlas lives and breathes with each new song. "Ron Mexico," on the other hand, could be the start of a revolution in cock-rock. Velez sings something us teens love to think, but never actually say, "I’m in love with diversity / Yeah, I’m in love with defeat / Just leave me here to sit and think / Of all the things that I’ve done wrong." There’s a certain satisfaction with failure. We can complain to those around us. We can move on, try harder or seek revenge. Without this feeling of dissatisfaction, would we ever progress?

I don’t know why I’m surprised "Only Silence," the only song I initially hated upon hearing Atlas, is now the most redeemable. Opening the song with screams confused me, but it really does add depth. Throw in some interplay between a heavy, deep riff and a limber, melodic one, and you’ve got added points for tricky songwriting. Roy Morlock’s drumming, while admittedly cliché in its rapid-fire assault, does an admirable job of getting me like totally amped. My true moment of Zen, however, comes near the end, when gang screaming, double bass drum and Velez’s leadership combine into an uplifting climax. The lyrics also struck me as superb, "You are like Atlas / The fact is that you’re unconcerned with progress, ambition / You seem so distant / Why aren’t you listening?" Just enough metalcore elements give this song a shiny new sheen, while the catchiness in their sing/scream seems completely effortless.

Truthfully, there’s not much more I could have expected from Atlas. The growth is here. The talent is here. The band is gaining fans by the minute. I know you probably don’t care about this, but on the very, very, very slight chance that you do, let me instill a sense of urgency: they won’t be yours and yours alone for long. Sorry, but I’d like to think this is partly my fault. (Damn, I’m a great writer. I sure do look handsome today. Yes, they’re natural.) I love this band even more than I love myself.


Recommended If You Like - Rise Against, Ignite, Hercules (the Disney version), Blessthefall, God of War - Absolutepunk.net


"Review of Atlas"

We get a lot of records to review at Mammoth Press, and with the advent of digital release distribution that number is growing ever day. But it's the rare exception where an unsigned band sends us their demo or album and we can find time to fit it in with the rest of the reviews. We'll still listen to them, and give notes if you want, but getting your unsigned band a review is often hard due to the sheer number of releases we have to cover. So when we cover a self promoted, self released and self financed record, it's a sign that record is something special and we think the band in question is going to go onto great things. Lipona is that kind of band and Atlas is that kind of record.

Hailing from Florida, a place better known for technical death metal and hardcore than skate punk, Lipona combine pieces from the melodic punk landscape to create their Atlas, a road map of all the things this reviewer loves about punk. There a moments of hardcore, poppy hooks, floods of gang vocals, elements of both skate punk and trash punk and a hundred other little splinters of the genre that come together to somehow give the band an equally unique and instantly recognizable sound.

There are no true clunkers here only a few weak moments in otherwise killer songs scattered about, like the screamed vocal intro on "Only Silence" which seem more screechy than brutal. Oh course that complaint is immediately forgotten when the actual music this "could have been a b-side on Illusion of Safety" gem starts, and the band shows off the strength of their riffs and melodies. The times where Lipona don't shine are so few and far between that listing them all would be easy but pointless. It would be mostly nitpicking and the good here far outweighs the bad.

For example take the albums two absolute stand out tracks "Success Stories" and "The Citadel." "Success Stories" easily mixes a simply massive chorus and bridge with the blisteringly fast skate punk of the verses to make the perfect punk rock work out song. Run in a circle (pit) for a minute, jump up and down with your fist in the air for a minute, repeat! Likewise "The Citadel" shows off the band's impressive ability to intertwine emotion and intelligence into a punk song (and proper use of the word existential) with speed and a killer gang vocal sing-a-long.

Combine all of these wonderful traits with a stellar production job by Andy Jackson of Hot Rod Circuit fame that brings clarity instead of studio gloss to the record and you've got the complete package. Lipona are the real deal, with the drive to promote themselves and the songs to back up their promises. If Atlas is any indication these guys wont be dwelling in the ranks of the unsigned for long.

8.5 out of 10
RIYL: The Swellers, Rise Against, Slick Shoes or Thrice - Mammoth Press


"Review of Urbi Et Orbi"

When I was referred to a link to a file on a free download site I expected little more than mediocre, fast punk that I’d heard a million times before. However, I’d pleasantly been supplied a link to a free EP of one of the best things I’ve heard out of the USA in a long time. The problem with referring unsigned bands to bands people will know is that people will listen to the unsigned band listening for the similarity rather than judging the unsigned band’s music. However, you really have to provide a comparison, or people wont listen; therefore, if you’re expecting to hear one of the bands mentioned below, quit reading now and just go and listen to one of those band’s latest albums and you’ll get what you want because Lipona aren’t here to recycle music like a lot of the other unsigned bands currently.

Lipona are a four-piece band from Tallahassee, Florida playing a cross between a less technical and ferocious A Wilhelm Scream and a less poppy Set Your Goals. Oh, and there’s added touches of At the Drive-In, Ignite and Rise Against to complete the equation. Or you could say it’s radio-friendly A Wilhelm Scream, though that makes it sound like it lacks balls, which it doesn’t. The worst criticism I could come up with about Lipona’s sound is that this isn’t new, but it’s the styles people love the most combined, which seems to be what practically every new band has been trying in recent years but failing miserably.

The lyrics throughout the EP portray some form of battle against power, a refusal to consent to convention and these guys put up great battle with melodies, speed, intensity, screams, group vocals... Compare the band to At the Drive-In, who certainly didn’t consent to convention -- Lipona reflect them, particularly with the calmer vocals but stay in the arena of punk rock. Perhaps one of the great assets to this EP is the ground they manage to cover in five tracks without making it convoluted whatsoever.

The final track, "The Citadel" is the most impressive out of these five; everything in it seems to be perfect. The transition from verse to chorus is with a scream backed up by drums that never fail to impress, then to a massive chorus of group vocals backing an already unique lead vocalist who takes control. It’s hard to separate one member of this band from the others because if one is taken away, the whole project falls apart; however, the drumming requires attention as it’s so powerful it practically becomes omnipotent. Respect must be paid to the producer, too, with the production and sound being perfect.

Lipona provide the best message for unsigned bands today; however, with the fragile state of the music industry they mustn’t get carried away with themselves. They’ve shown through these several tracks that any band can have a great sound and I want to use this to tell other unsigned bands to take the road Lipona have. No one is interested if you’re trying to be like Set Your Goals because there already is a Set Your Goals, and you restrict yourself; if and when this fad ends, so will you. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if a mediocre Paramore-esque group had a short time in the light, though that will be the work of agents and business men; the punk rock world isn’t like that with it being extremely fickle and fragile, though Lipona should be incredibly proud of their achievement with this EP nonetheless.

You can download it for free here. - Punknews.org


"Review of Atlas"

Tallahassee's own rock project Lipona kicks off a promising future with their first full length album Atlas.
This five piece rock band stars lead vocalist Yamil Velez, guitarists Sean Boote and Thomas Fuquay, bassist Danny Renninger and drummer Roy Morlock. In addition to Yamil, Lipona's exceptionally put together vocal combinations are done with the help of Sean, Thomas and Danny. With a balance of hard, fast-paced rock and emotional, powerful vocals and tone, Lipona stands in the likes of bands like Armor For Sleep, Senses Fail, or Matchbook Romance. Similar to Armor For Sleep lead vocalist, Ben Jorgensen, Lipona's Yamil has an unmistakable haunting quality in his voice.

Lipona is keen to creating a melodic, passionate sound, that at the same time samples backing music resembling raw punk rock from loved bands like The Ramones.
Although it is hard to believe how the ever competing sound of past and present punk rock could work together in one venture, in Atlas, it does. This odd, yet wondrous combination frames Lipona holding keys to doors guarding rock genres of the past thirty decades.

The album opens with the track "Shutup And Stay Positive." It begins with acoustic guitar strumming that quickly transitions into the bands familiar breakneck drum beats. There is an air of easily felt emotion which continuously grows as the song progresses. "Success Stories" has exactly the kind of energy and melody that a song needs to grab the attention of today's most serious scenesters. The chorus gleams with a powerfully soothing vocal harmony led by Yamil that sits nicely between mosh-pit prompting verses. "The Citadel" is a fitting-to-its-title song about entanglement in war. This theme could represent to its listener a physical struggle or ones own rough course through existence. Intelligent lyrics such as "Life is a fleeting sun, we must disown it/ And forge a higher ground that'll raise us to the clouds/ They will never ever catch us lying down," describe a desire to overcome the metaphorical enemy. The dynamic guitar, heavy drums, and chant-like vocals join the lyrics to compose this inspirational rock powerhouse. "To Wishful Thinking!" is the track that deflects the ear and mind most quickly back to the CBGB times of the mid 1970's. The disorderly manner of the instruments and vocals on this track match exactly the sounds that were ever so popular in punk rock's original stages.

The album in its entirety is bursting with raw emotion that is easily sensed. Lipona offers what is most desired to the current punk rock scene while paying homage to where it all began.
With this veteran type of sound, Atlas is a first full-length that goes beyond the rudimentariness of a "first.
" That being said, I strongly recommend heading on over to the band's Myspace and figuring out one of the many ways provided to purchase Atlas. - Front and Center Rock


Discography

Urbi Et Orbi (EP - 2007)
Atlas (LP - 2008)

Photos

Bio

News update - Stream our album "Atlas" on Punknews.org!

Hailing from the college town of Tallahassee, Florida, Lipona is a five-piece rock band that derives it's sound from punk-rock and experiments with elements of ambient and post-hardcore music to create a unique blend of powerful choruses, gang vocals and sing alongs. The band recorded their debut EP with Lee Dyess at Earthsound Recording (Mayday Parade, Across Five Aprils, From First to Last) in August of 2007 and self-released the album "Urbi Et Orbi" on their myspace free of charge, gathering hundreds of downloads in the first couple weeks. Their new full-length "Atlas" signaled a more mature sound for the band as they have earned great reviews from Rock critics and bloggers alike. With energetic live performances and healthy amounts of DIY ethic, Lipona is ready to take on whatever the future holds as they present their music to a larger audience via regional tours and self-promotion in hopes of garnering label support in the upcoming year.

"For once I don't have anything to rant about.
Lipona is just too good." - Absolutepunk.net

"One of the best things I've heard out of the USA in a long time." - Punknews.org

"Punk rock records don�t usually take the time to create flexible atmospheres, but [Lipona's Atlas] lives and breathes with each new song." - Absolutepunk.net

"The best unsigned band I've ever worked with" - Andy Jackson (Hot Rod Circuit)

"Lipona are the real deal, with the drive to promote themselves and the songs to back up their promises. If Atlas is any indication these guys wont be dwelling in the ranks of the unsigned for long." - Mammoth Press

"Although it is hard to believe how the ever competing sound of past and present punk rock could work together in one venture, in Atlas, it does." - Front and Center Rock