Everything Falls Apart Shows Records

REVIEWS

Razorcake #54
EVERYTHING FALLS APART:
Relief: LP
This is a serious helping of thinking man’s hardcore. While a lot of bands are getting noisier as a way to increase the aggressiveness, Everything Falls Apart seem to be really zoning in on some great melodies and non-cock riffs, while still retaining the ‘80s HC influence. Consistently powerful, while definitely mixing it up and creating their sound. It’s great to hear a band develop without jumping off the deep end. Anyone who has a soft spot for pre-Hidden World Fucked Up should check this out. –Daryl Gussin (Self-released)

Terminal Boredom
Everything Falls Apart "Relief" LP
Wouldn't it be funny if these guys didn't even like Husker Du? Okay, maybe not. The young 'core-kids play hard and flirt with the more melodic side of the genre at times, but that's not to say they can't rip it when needed. Check the mosh part on the closer ("Roses") for eveidence. An even ten tracks that don't pull from the Mould canon as much as you'd think and even remind me a bit of some Leatherface in their more mid-tempo moments. Refreshing in that it's hardcore that isn't following the current trends (mysterious guy Kvlt Ritual stuff, or powerviolence rehash, or poppy bullshit), they pull out a record with hopeful sounding and driving riffs, tough and tasteful vox and a classy reverence for real punk ideals. When they thrash it up, they sound close to Career Suicide without the LA-punk backbone. Well recorded, guitars and vox get good treatment. For fans of working class American hardcore and Rust Belt angst. Catch them touring Europe to open the new year. (RK)
(self-released // www.everythingfallsapart.org)

Equalizing X Distort
Everything Falls Apart "Relief" LP
Whenever I see this band's name I think of EPILEPTIC TERROR ATTACK. It's the three letter acronym. E.F.A. is one letter off of E.TA. But the band's are not to be confused. This is EVERYTHING FALLS APART's third release but first full length. I like the spirit behind this band. There is a healthy dose of self-criticism in songs like "Stay Home" and "Niagara" where they look at the place they are from to songs of yesteryear in "First Time". The band brings moody parts in with some heavier more mid paced types of early punk. They remind me a lot of a more off the rail version of NAKED RAYGUN. The band has lost their BLACK FLAG bite with this one. (Everything Falls Apart - www.everythingfallspart.org ) -SP

Suburban Voice
EVERYTHING FALLS APART-Relief (self-released, LP)
A fine 12" debut (following a couple of 7"s, which were actually compiled on an LP) for this Buffalo band, who dip quite a bit into the mid-to-late 80s DC sound-scape--Rites of Spring, Ignition and the like--for inspiration. But instead of merely mimicking that sound, they use it as a piece of their frenetic, feverish tumult. Emotional? Well, sort of, although Pat Shanahan doesn't sound like he's about to break out into tears. But the warmth of the guitar tone offset by throbbing bass and propulsive drumming certainly conjure up that impression. I mean that in the best possible sense. It's a feverish swirl that veers closer to hardcore for the likes of "Paralyzed" and "First Time." But it's a song like "Leave No Record," with the stop/starts and stinging guitar line, that leaves (sorry) an even stronger impression. It's been a few years since their last 7" and EFA have shown growth as a band, infusing their hardcore roots with an infectiously melodic focus.

Maximum RockNRoll #319 December 2009
Everything Falls Apart - "Relief" LP
I was psyched to see this in my pile of reviews this month because I was really into the EP that came out a year or so ago. The inspiration for the band's name doesn't really manifest too much in my ears; I hear more of a gloomy, discordant sound not unlike LOSER LIFE mixed with SHADES APART and a hint of BORN AGAINST, all the while containing hints of melody that hold things together. And just like their other material, the songs on this slab range from bursts of snotty hardcore to moody, mid-paced numbers with words that border on depression. I can almost feel the industrial blight of Buffalo, NY on a gray winter afternoon while hearing this. It's foggy and dreary out my window as I'm writing this, so the atmosphere is perfect. Playing traditional hardcore while maintaining their own sound, this band stands out from the crop of revival groups that have emerged in the last few years. Great! (BG) (self released)

EqualizingXDistort Febuary 2008
Everything Falls Apart - "Tension" EP
This is EFA's second release. I like even better than the first. It's got more CAREER SUICIDE snottiness to it with a NO SLOGAN retro punk beat. This was recorded almost a year ago, but my records are a mess and I just found it. And can I ever relate to the cover art. This is hands down my favourite release out of the AOTU singles series. -SP

MaximumRockNRoll #295 December 2007
EVERYTHING FALLS APART - "Tension" EP
This Buffalo band's name may recall HUSKER DU, but I hear more of a WASTED YOUTH sound in the growled vocals and non-stop hardcore guitars. This debut effort boasts a strong measure of intensity---while the tunes aren't the typical short shocks, a patient listener may be pleased to find varied tracks that profit from multiple listens. Solid. (SS)

Razorcake #41
EVERYTHING FALLS APART: Tension: 7”EP
Kinda weird, having the same name as a relatively poppy Hüsker Dü song (on the album of the same name) when you’re a straight-ahead hardcore band. All considered, I’m glad they’re not called Warehouse Songs And Stories, but I think Land Speed Record would be a better truth-in-title-of-what-the-band-sounds like for the group. Well-played hardcore; they share similarities to a band like Damage Deposit. –Todd (Art Of The Underground)

Suburban Voice
EVERYTHING FALLS APART-Tension (Art Of The Underground)
Another session of agitation therapy, courtesy of Everything Falls Apart. A howl from the innards—Pat’s voice conveys the pain and anger and there’s also an aggressive musical punch in the gut, if I can be alliterative for a momen. This isn’t as thrashed out as their first EP and it misses a bit of the roughness in production but the songs still pack a mid-to-fast paced wallop. (PO Box 250, Buffalo, NY 14205, www.artoftheunderground.com)

Give Me Back #3
EVERYTHING FALLS APART - Escape 7"
This shit rules! Seven songs of hardcore punk rock, reminding me at various times of DEGENERICS, BLACK FLAG, BAD BRAINS, THE SUICIDE FILE, and THE UNSEEN. Check. The recording is super hot and fuzzy, real punk, yet you can discern individual instruments well, just the way I like it. Check. AND they fucking put it out themselves. CHECK. The vocalist's voice immediately makes me think of the DEGENERICS, but I suspect that like most people outside of New Jersey, he does not know that band. (Get on that, they fucking RULE! Probably New Jersey's best band. Ever.) THE DEGENERICS association is way poitive, as that band's vocalist is one of the most disgusted, seething, expressive peopleI have ever heard recorded. While EVERYTHING FALLS APART's vocalist has certainly not reached those same heights, he is reminiscent nonetheless. Thir lyrics get at some of the shittier aspects of out modern world alienation, preoccupation with shallow pursuits, becoming a civilian, and the stupid shit people say to be "funny". I feel these lyrics. There is a real sense of honesty in them; I do perceive much pretense here. they keep the tempo mixed up both from song to song and within songs. this is a really solid release. i want more! CH

Mad At The World
EVERYTHING FALLS APART - Escape 7"
Here is another 7" that isn't quite that new anymore, but deserves a mention nonetheless. I actually sought this one out myself after seeing a very favorable review on Hardware courtesy of Dave K. The band released this themselves, and did a nice job on the packaging, screening some smaller, Dangerhouse-style covers, and hand stamping the labels. Musically, they straddle styles a bit, at times leaning more towards the thrashy hardcore punk style of the spectrum. Still, between the breakdowns and some of the riffs, they also seem to draw from some of the faster youth crew style bands. Nitpicking about micro-genres aside, as a first outing and having done it all themselves, Everything Falls Apart pulled it off very well, and hit on a pretty good sound, treading similar territory as Tear it Up, for example. (self released)

Scene Point Blank
EVERYTHING FALLS APART - Escape 7"
Everything Falls Apart gets big ups and putting this seven-inch out all on their own. Six songs of semi-melodic 80's styled punk/hardcore with snotty vocals. No chugga-chugga breakdowns, no useless slogans, no emo meanderings, just straight up fast hardcore that may be played a bit sloppy but most assuredly played with all heart.

Short Fast & Loud #17
EVERYTHING FALLS APART - Escape 7"
All new bands please take note; self releasing a kick-ass first 7", that has a good studio recording quality and is nicely(not fancy) packaged should be essential. Two thumbs way the fuck up for EFA who did a great job on this, their first release. Hailing from Buffalo, NY these kids know their shit and play pure unadulterated US H/C, the way it was always meant to be played. I can hear a plethora of influences in their sound, ranging from such H/C lumanaries as CIRCLE JERKS to NEGATIVE FX and from current overhyped bands CAREER SUICIDE to DIRECT CONTROL. Pick this one up outta the distro box at the next show and get blown the fuck away.

Punk Planet #79
Everything Falls Apart - Escape 7"
This is the debut rager by Buffalo, NY’s Everything Falls Apart. With the amount of generic hardcore that I get fed to review, it’s pretty easy to get cynical. Records like this one keep me from losing my mind. There’s nothing negative to say about it. Good layout and light blue opaque vinyl coupled with rock solid no frills hardcore. Phenomenal. ((DA))

Razorcake #37
EVERYTHING FALLS APART: Escape: 7”
You know how you slop something together because you need to eat, but don’t really care what it is? How, while you’re eating, you sometimes forget what you’re even eating because it’s just that unremarkable? That’s how EFA is for me. Decent enough hardcore that does the trick well enough, but I just end up forgetting that I’m even listening to anything. –Megan (Self-released)

Suburban Voice
EVERYTHING FALLS APART-Escape (self-released, 7” EP)
EFA are from Buffalo and describe the city as “Frozen, rusted and dead.” “Planning My Escape” is about how they can’t wait to get out of there. The hardcore punk on this EP acts as an expression of their feelings of frustration and anger. Dang, that sounds pretentious so let’s get down to the facts. Pat’s vocals are ranty and pissed-off and there’s a good balance between thrashed-up songs and more medium-paced punk rock compositions. (www.everythingfallsapart.org)

Hanging Like A Hex
EVERYTHING FALLS APART, Escape 7"
The debut from this Buffalo, NY gives me some further hope that things have not totally deteriorated in this rust-belt town. But while on the subject, I should get it out of the way- the last song on this record, Frozen. Rusted. Dead pretty much surmises my feelings about Buffalo to a T when I was a resident there. Otherwise, the bulk of the material from this group is in short fits of punk-hardcore. Two songs have pretty righteous melodic parts that add a little spice, but for the most part the hardcore is fierce, the vocals are kind of snotty, and the attitude is just right. Not bad. (www.everythingfallsapart.org)

Terminal Boredom
Everything Falls Apart "Escape" EP
Taking their moniker from an old Husker Du song, Buffalo’s Everything Falls Apart cram seven blasters (one per inch) on this debut record. Loaded with charged early 80s style hardcore-punk (the vocals--snotty shouting, give it a little extra ‘core, though)—EFA definitely show promise on this solid, self-released first record. Although they could have trimmed this one down to 4 or 5 songs...that’s not to say there are weak links. The seven songs on "Escape" (no nods to the Journey lp) are quick and distinctive enough to keep things interesting throughout, and sound even better on repeated listens...not to mention they get a good recording to go along with it. It’s not rocket science by any means, but it ‘escapes’ being generic and is, instead, a promising debut from a young band. Also of note, is the handsome sleeve and ‘coke bottle green’ clear vinyl. Fans of Career Suicide, take note. 300 copies.(LB)
(self-released // www.everythingfallsapart.org)

Quick Fix #2
Everything Falls Apart "Escape" 7"
These guys hail from the Buffalo, NY area and give major nods to what Career Suicide is doing. They are no way a clone but the influence, style and sounds are there. Musicicanship is tight and nicely produced. Needless to say, with repeated listens, this grows on you like a fungus. The cover, simply put, is amazing and mine came on this very light green clear vinyl. If you are looking for a new 7" for your box, do not hesitate to grab this one! -Dave K.

Equalizing x Distort December 2006
Everything Falls Apart "Escape" ep
This is a great new hardcore band out of Buffalo, that doesn't have that straight edge power violence sound to them. Pat, the singer, reminds me of an early version of the singer from Career Suicide. The record cover artwork reminds me of that of the first Hostage Life demo. The name conjures up similarities to Epileptic Terror Attack. And their song about Buffalo makes reference to a No Time Left song regarding the public transit which is a "trin to nowhere". Even the title track expresses the loathing for their home town in "Planning My Escape". We can share that sentiment for our own hometowns. The band sounds like part Terminal State, part Dead Kennedys. A good blend of early east coast meets west coast American hardcore. But put it all together as a self-released record and you have something exceptional here. -SP

Suspect Device (UK) #48
EVERYTHING FALLS APART “Escape” 7” Self Released
It’s really cool when a band releases their own record, and even better when it turns out to be as good as this. It kicks off with just guitar, but none of this metal guitar nonsense, this guitar has that early US hardcore sound, when the rest of the band jump in and they’re off; a blistering punk rock attack with good vocals, it’s hard hitting and fast but thee is a tune hiding in there somewhere. I can hear a little Black Flag and some Circle Jerks and I can feel the energy pouring out of these guys. It reminds me of bands like Amdi Petersen’s Army and those others that Kick N Punch put out, it’s got that sort of feel. I like this a lot and it’s great to get records like this, and to feel excited about listening to 7” vinyl. Now I really must take this record off and review something else… Ok, one more play through. www.everythingfallsapart.org -Tony

Maximum Rock N Roll #284
EVERYTHING FALLS APART - "Escape" EP
Everything Falls Apart is a good, mid-paced three-chord hardcore band with a snotty vocalist who is at times a little one-dimensional and monotone(that's not to say he doesn't pull it off). The lyrics deal with such personal, introspective topics such as not fitting in, and growing up in a shitty town (Buffalo, NY). (CC)