Rob’s Album Of The Week: Lags’ Soon

Lags have risen as the leaders of Rome’s punk community ever since they released their debut album, Pilot, in 2015. Their post-hardcore leanings exhibit abstract structures and unbridled intensity. Frontman Antonio Canestri screams consistently to the point where it’ll make the listener wonder how his vocal cords are doing. Andrew Howe is the foundation on drums while having tight syncopation with bassist Daniele De Carli. Gianluca Laetana plays off of Canestri and vice versa on guitar to create a fantastic energy exchange. The band’s second release, Soon, is coming out on March 29 via Cazu Marzu Records and it takes their sound to a whole new level.

A main difference between the new album and the debut is that Lags seem to be expanding their limitations. There are more solos and a wider array of progressions. They’ve also seemed to have fined tuned themselves to the point where they harness even more power and volume. While Pilot is a punch to the gut, Soon is a stick of dynamite ready to explode. The evolution of a band can sometimes be a special one and this is a great example.

The beauty of music these days can be found in the most unlikeliest of places. There could be an incredible hip hop scene in Beijing, amazing metal coming out of Johannesburg or in this case, a haven for fantastic punk rock happening in Rome. All people have to do is a little…