This week I'm diving into the new LP 27 Miles Underwater Water from Leed's hardcore crew, Higher Power. I really resonated with their 2017 debut Soul Structure, and their new album is both and continuation and an exciting departure from their previous release. The band still honors their namesake heroes, Subzero, by running the torch of New York City's late '80s punk and metal crossover scene, much in the same vein as label mates Turnstile, but these boys are leaning into the hard funk and white-thrash tire-fire house production that formed the iron smelted skeleton of American alternative and groove metal until well into the late '90s. Think Deftone's White Phony dropped headfirst into the toxic green cover art of Vision of Disorder self-titled, and you'll get a sense for the oily stained quality and wild dirty energy that permeates and textures these performances. That said, there is a surprising amount of clean singing here. Still, it doesn't blunt the forcefulness of the rock elements, and there is not even a whiff of compromise about the whole operation. "Seamless" opens up with a Warzone like metallic riffed spin-cycle before dipping under a watery reverb submerged bridge, lead by bright, blinding vocals that ring out with absolute clarity of intent. "Shedding Skin" sounds like Glassjaw at their most desperate and frayed, with upper cutting funk-metal riffs that keep the track from being dragged down by its heavier, more brooding qualities. "Lost in Static" reaches some phenomenal heights with its momentous, mix-forward melodies and swift, airy leeds. Later in the album, "Low Season" slows things down to a simmer just in time for "Passenger" to pick things up again with a Fugazi meets Madball groove, backed up by a bopping breakbeat. There is even a little bit of emo space-rock on the nervous, reverb primed geyser "In the Meantime." 27 Miles Underwater Water is a gratifying album with fathoms of hard-hitting riffs, finely-tuned performances, and thoughtful lyrics in which to become immersed and forget your cares. Let Higher Power lift you up so that you can get down already.
Grab a copy of 27 Miles Underwater Water from Roadrunner records, here.
