Flatliners

***After 10 years in the trenches relentlessly touring, continually writing and releasing new material, and coalescing as a unit, THE FLATLINERS have managed to avoid the dreaded pitfall that plagues so many other popular bands: hitting a plateau. To the contrary, having noticeably matured on each subsequent release, The Flatliners utilize their ever-increasing cohesiveness to continue to stretch the boundaries of their music. Their latest offering, Dead Language, is a testament to this fact. The 13 tracks on Dead Language display a diverse array of influences and moods, ranging from complex introspective moments to the crescendo of arena-sized choruses, all of which are deftly fused together with the intelligent song writing and musical fluidity that can only be gained through years of playing together as a band. Songs like “Caskets Full” and “Bury Me” show The Flatliners flexing their ability to pump out straight-up hits with irresistibly catchy and upbeat refrains. Then there are tracks like “Drown In Blood,” “Tail Feathers,” and “Hounds” that reflect a visceral and more intricate aspect of the band’s persona. As a whole Dead Language takes a more nuanced approach to the concoction of break-neck guitar rhythms and sing-along lyrics that have established The Flatliners as one of the most exciting acts in the punk genre today. It’s business as usual for a band whose business is consistently pushing their sound to new heights. LP includes a download.