Nicholas Ryan Taft
Back in 2010, Michael Matejick released an emotionally jarring statement on MySpace regarding the disbanding of his then musical outlet, Of Machines. In that statement, you read a raw, visceral reaction of a passionate musician who’s dream was falling through his fingers and didn’t know how to take it.
Determined to move on and create something that wouldn’t mirror his previous project, Matejick moved to Kennesaw and assembled his creative arsenal. The first to join him was ex-Of Machines keyboardist-turned-guitarist, Jasön Mays. He was subsequently followed by Matejick’s former We Are Kings (an early OF incarnation) bandmate, Spencer Strobel, drummer Wesley Hohensee and bassist Kyle Keating. This lineup became the first incarnation of Native Suns in 2012.
Over the years, the band has seen its share of vocalists (current frontman Austin McAuley assumed the reins in 2014), as well as drummers (Hohensee played on the record, but has since been replaced by McAuley and Mays’ fellow Guitar Center employee, Jon Krueger). There have been other struggles, including battles with drug abuse, but the band has managed to persevere through it all, keeping their eyes on what matters most.
Relay.Aquire, their first official release, is an emotional journey, fueled by intricate guitar pieces and passionate vocals that combine to create the band’s formidable sound. The group picks its spots through the six-track effort, taking you along for the ride and keeping your attention with a diversity that Of Machines seemed to lack. The rhythm section of Honensee and Keating hold down the fort with rock solid bass lines and deep, abundant tom and cymbal rushes, as Matejick, Mays and Strobel rocket into space. Meanwhile, McAuley’s voice finds the common ground between Anthony Green of Circa Survive and Brandon Roundtree of Conditions, showing off his polished range and the sharp-tongued ferocity of the band’s lyrics in the process.
A muted guitar sets the scene for McAuley’s battle cry on “False Tongues,” while his clean vocals cut through “Paper Houses” with a chorus that boasts a xylophone and the eager mashing of a delay pedal. Elsewhere, “Clockwork,” “Relay.Aquire” and “Lost” all showcase the Suns’ ability to make aggressive hooks that aren’t overbearing, but help balance the atmosphere they were created in. But it’s the EP’s final offering, “Desertion,” that stands out the most here; the track’s slow groove and programmed drums end with a mesmerizing two-minute instrumental that leaves you feeling submerged and weightless.
It’s been a long time coming, but Native Suns have fulfilled the expectations of fans who have been pining for the band to put out new material since 2012. That’s no easy task, and the band should take strength in having come this far. Furthermore, since today is the official release date of Relay.Aquire, the band was nice enough to let us premiere the title track — a blistering post-hardcore rager that ends in a wall of sound and haunting piano keys. Listen below.
More Info
Bandcamp: nativesunsmusic.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @NativeSuns
Instagram: @NativeSuns
Twitter: @NativeSuns
YouTube: youtube.com/nativesunsband