The indie rock/post rock genre may be on the upswing as of late with prominent artists from the scene now getting major label contracts and some even altering their sound to cater to the masses as a result; But its bands like Tabula Rasa who thankfully prove that despite the increasing stakes, there are still artists out there who can retain their integrity and stay true to their roots. Cunningly straight forward and stripped down, the music featured on this EP is steeped more within the traditional vein of the genre, possessing a faint militant punky influence as the band tear into dizzying harmonics and bare bones rock assaults that are fueled more by restrained aggression and mathy compositions rather than the emo ridden melancholy that has taken residence within the scene as of late.

Pointed and unwavering vocals comprise the bulk of the bands empowered charge, only occasionally dipping into introspective emotion and a few spoken word pieces to invoke depth and range. Meanwhile, grating guitar work precisely carves out a progressive path as treble heavy riffs shred and squeal forth a colorful sound-scape padded by some flowing melodies and jangled chords. Overall discordant and brash, the sonic palette of the frenzied riffery somehow manages to compliment the bands sound and drive the songs onward without sounding reckless or overdone. As such, a healthy array of thick driving bass lines bring up the rear, contributing a wealth of energy to the tracks while also adding a somewhat bouncy, yet concentrated feel that ultimately balances out the more brazen guitar playing. The percussion is a bit darker however and riddles the tracks with a punchy style that impacts with a slightly dulled tuning, giving the band a dense base of steady rolls and vigorous dead on beats to rise off of and freely let loose upon.

Where most of the bands in today's indie rock/post rock genre seem to try and recreate the glory of more popular bands like At The Drive-In or ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Tabula Rasa instead dig back further, invoking memories of the likes of Drive Like Jehu and Jawbox. As such, its a refreshing experience as the band have taken inspiration from some of the roots of the genre and modernized them to current standards, creating a volatile mix of emotion and incisive creativity that refuses to buckle under any inklings of commercial pressure. The music is generally loud and cacophonous but that's also its charm as it layered brilliantly and its aggressive never give in attitude really brings back a face of the genre not often seen in recent times. Admittedly, some of the songs can become a bit too clouded in their own indulgence and the bands music is definitely not for everyone as its distinctly non commercial stylings will no doubt rub a few people the wrong way. But for those with an open mind or a taste for more traditional indie rock, Tabula Rasa serve up a top notch affair that is intelligent, brooding and most important of all, artistic.