THE LETTERS

Initially released in 2010, with their great album Gangs on its heels, Letters EP was definitely one of the first things I had heard from ASIWYFA. This was definitely the beginning of their most golden era in my opinion (in part culminating to 2015's Heirs). Highly melodic, they mix Post-Rock with Heavy Metal, Prog and Alt to my ears.

"S is for Salamander" is a huge track. The infectious, hypnotic main riff plays crunchily over solid Rock drumming. After minute 1, we get a great shift into the next section, a mathy gallop. And with the Math Rock comparison, this section, too, morphs into something heavier, feeling as though it were an homage to some of the heavier Indie Rock of the past. Released as their contribution in a split with Talons, the next is the shredded, gargantuan blast of "D is for Django The Bastard" which offers a little jazz, a little indie, and a sh*t-ton of fun, to be unabashedly frank. I mean, this is simply iconic. One of their all-time best moments.

In a funky feel, the beginning of our second half is fittingly "B is for B Side", which has such a great rhythm. Oh, and it's another biggie. This is one, I now acknowledge, I didn't play a whole lot when I was listening to them the most, but wow does it ever have a lot to offer! Really great main riff, big performances from everyone involved, and it really will keep your interest piqued. Finally, another of their most memorable songs is the EP closer, "K is for Killing Spree", and it is just about as heavy as the name might imply. Another one with a great riff, too, including these weird slides and choppy lines. The section nearing the second minute is quite hefty and the hits on the hi-hat are just wild. Though significantly longer than the rest, I feel that it's compositionally wanting in comparison. Not bad by any stretch of my imagination, but I can just see them doing even more with this. It's more a showcase of the vast array of sonic elements And So I Watch You From Afar has to offer collectively. But yeah, still great.

True Rate: 4.5/5.0