Under Lies by Endive

For fans of Fugazi, Jawbreaker, Texas Is the Reason, 80s melodic hardcore, and the tender, vulnerable core of all anger, Under Lies by Endive gives us a rare newly released window into the mid 90s Midwest post hardcore scene. This once-lost archival album exposes the foundations of much of today’s heavy music scene, showing the confluence of sung melodies and aggressive breakdowns which would become the trademark of basements across the world in the decades after. Acrobatic bass, frantic drums, and anthemic guitars keep aesthetics upbeat, keeping us trudging forward through adversity even as a snarl forms on our face. On the other hand, full, complex harmonies introduce a dash of the brand of melancholy which would turn the world towards the sounds of emo in the following years, revealing a central weakness within this veneer of furious strength which brings an air of relatability to the typically impenetrable front of 90s hardcore.