L.i.E. – Eviction

Comprised of former members of hard-hitting Augusta acts from the nineties and rounded off with a couple of upstart guitarists. L.i.E. has jumped out of the starting gate hard with debut release “Eviction”, a 16-track cluster of thick heavy rhythms, dark yet at times gorgeous melodies,  and split personality vocals.

With a lineup that includes former members of Split Decision / 420 Outback (bassist Jo Bone), Heir to Ruin (drummer Michael Dinkins), Jemani (keyman Dale Lowe) and Cycle (vocalist Tony Miaco) expectations were sure to be high and pressures to live up to those expectations possibly even higher but rather than continue to pad the new band’s lineup with more area music vets, L.i.E. threw upstart guitarists Brint Lollar and Josh Newman directly into the fire and the pair not only came out mostly unscathed, both left their own handprints smeared nicely all over the music on “Eviction.”

Starting with eerie intro u.r., sounding a bit like Vincent  price meets Saw, L.i.E. get the metal ball rolling with Egomachine, a frantic tune with a very tasty thick verse groove.  Miaco does his best “Faces of Eve” impersonation jumping back and forth between mesmerizing clear vocals, high pitched shrills and gutteral chaos.  This is no mere studio trick.  Miaco matches this same feat live on stage.   Drifting continues the barrage with Miaco settling on the clear delivery culminating with a blistering guitar solo before giving way for album standout tracks Control and Gone Today.

L.I.E. reserve the middle of “Eviction” for a twisted mix of beautifully melodic yet dark tracks such as Paradise Lost, and Before the Fall only opening up a bit on Descent before kicking into what may be the most “radio friendly” track on “Eviction”, the hauntingly catchy Horizon.  This track easily matches up to anything kicking up dirt on hard rock radio these days.

The remainder of “Eviction” is an attack of sounds, noises, and styles that jump all over the map.  If Horizon is L.I.E.’s stab at mainstream radio then what follows sends a message that L.i.E. is not content to merely toss out comfortable music for the modern rock crowd.  You won’t find your folks metal lurking around too much in “Eviction” but if you are familiar with the bands from which L.i.E. was spawn then you will discover a connection that just may make you feel at home…even on “Eviction.”

L.i.E. will have two release shows for “Eviction”, the first May 15th at Sky City with 48Volt and Rebel Lion, and the other on May 23rd at all-ages venue Sector 7G with Brokn Tyme, Aralic and Blood of an Empire.

To check out more dates and to hear music from L.i.E. got to www.myspace.com/lostrockonline .