First Day Back: Forward

"Forward, First Day Back's unassuming debut, lit the internet ablaze when they self-released it in June. Recorded in a Santa Cruz living room by their friend Benjamin Chung, it's comprised entirely of live takes with all five members playing at once. They used no click tracks or isolated parts except Maggie's vocals, and the audio is minimally adjusted. That homespun aura gives Forward an everlasting glow."

"In reality, they formed last year after a string of on-campus crossings: reconnecting with a freshman-year neighbor looking for a place to crash, replying to a lamppost flyer seeking bandmates, and poaching a Title Fight-loving bassist from a jazz band. If the magnetism of their first jam session didn't make it obvious, the five musicians-lead singer and violinist Maggie, drummer Spencer, guitarists Nathan and Zion, and bassist Luke-learned they shared a deep reverence for Braid."

First Day Back formed on a Santa Cruz campus last year through chance encounters and shared musical tastes, naming the band after a favorite song in honor of Braid. The five-piece recorded Forward in a living room using live takes with all members playing together, avoiding click tracks and isolated parts aside from vocals, and applying minimal audio adjustment. The resulting homespun sound emphasizes abrasive post-hardcore rhythms, intricate guitar melodies, and impassioned sing-screams rooted in second-wave and Midwest emo. Mood dictates each of the nine songs, from violin-tinged introspective moments on "Paint" to familial heartache transformed into explosive catharsis on "Us."

Read at Pitchfork