It seems only fitting that I commence this blog with the album I derived the name from. An album that to this day still melts my bones after years of listening and inspires me to pursue my dreams, however unrealistic and farfetched they may seem. So, without further ado, I present to you: Witness, the second full-length from hardcore/punk outfit Modern Life Is War that is in my opinion, one of the most underrated and overlooked records in hardcore. Acting as a witness, the record is lyrically a testimony of the experiences and emotions of front-man Jeffrey Eaton, providing some of the best crafted and inspiring lyrics of any hardcore or punk album in the last decade. Every time the crackling of the needle on my prized Witness vinyl hits my eardrums, it takes me back to that time when you are really discovering what music inspires you, what music speaks directly to your soul when you cannot.
Coming from the small railroad town of Marshalltown, Iowa, Modern Life Is War somehow managed to harness the isolation of the passive Midwest and turn it into a unique cultural sound unlike any other heavy band to this day. It’s almost as if the sheer distance of the band from mainstream hardcore kept them grounded and allowed their sound to bloom without interference. Their first full-length record, My Love, My Way, was a good introduction to the band but in no way represents what they are capable of. The recording quality is weak, not capturing the force of the band and Eaton seems to have not found the comfortable range of his voice that carries Witness.
Their second full-length Witness displays the bands progression from My Love, My Way with melodic, yet reckless guitar riffs, in your face vocals, and unconventional hardcore drumming. It begins with “The Outsiders (AKA Hell Is For Heroes Part I),” reminding of how grateful I am that I was fortunate enough to see this band live. Every time, Eaton would walk out with pure confidence and shout, “We are Modern Life Is War from Marshalltown Iowa and this song is for all the outsiders!” I was one of these so called outsiders, amongst friends in the crowd but still alone, connecting to the record on many different levels. The somewhat distorted guitars strum in the background until the drums drop in with a pulsating tom groove and Eaton’s gritty vocals. The disgruntled lyrics sing of an outsider searching for meaning in an “empty generation’s wasteland” that offers no escape. Goddamn. I could literally talk about how much I love every song on this album but I’m not writing a thesis here. “Marshalltown” is another standout track that exhibits Eaton’s vocals at their best. Singing of his hometown, passion seeps from his vocal chords. The dark guitars layered over the slow drumbeat in the verse bring about the presence of the cold night that Eaton sings of. “D.E.A.D.R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” is an anthem of my youth, as well as an undeniable fan favorite. It’s as if every word was being screamed at me: “Making come true our wildest possible dreams/stuck in public classrooms at age fifteen.” My favorite verse of the record, “Another punk rock summer came and went and now I just want to go back home/Turn up my stereo, till the rhythm melts my bones ‘cause I’m a dead ramone.” The last four songs on the record showcase the excellent execution of two guitars melodically entwined with the rhythm section. “Young Man On A Spree” shows the unconventional aspects of Modern Life Is War with a driving drum roll the entire song beneath quick, sputtered vocals. “Hair Raising Accounts Of Restless Ghosts (AKA Hell Is For Heroes Part II)” concludes the record as Eaton offers his account both “confused and flawed” of breaking out of ordinary modern life.
Despite hearing some say that Modern Life Is War is similar to melodic hardcore bands like Comeback Kid, Witness destroys these preconceptions of mediocrity and offers twenty-seven minutes of unbridled intensity and unique hardcore within a genre of stale copycats. Although broken up, Modern Life Is War leave behind a void in hardcore that has yet to filled. This record will always be the one I turn to in need of an escape from aggression through aggression. RIP.
Rating: 10/10
Favorite Track: "Marshalltown"
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