Leveled by Year Twins

Review written by AlbumBum

Year Twins is yet another emo band from Ohio. This week they dropped a punchy, math rock infused, intermittent head bang inducing album. With lyrics ready to give you support in whatever setbacks have been hitting you most recently, or impressive drumming to distract you from what you’re avoiding, this album is perfect for the tired human. Leveled is their most recent album, released on September 27th 2024.

On my first listen it became immediately obvious this is not your common midwest emo, the genre I found it under on Bandcamp. This is harsh, it’s loud, and it’s got an aggressive presence rather than the more passive, self deprecating presence midwest emo usually has. Ghost Thief Funeral sounds like every instrument, including the singing, is being played by a masterful drummer. The guitar sounds like it’s doing fills. This might seem like just a description of math rock, one of midwest emo’s core elements, but this is different, this is intertwining the rhythm of the drums, guitar, and lyrics all to be braided together. It isn’t turning to power chords as many songs would.

The lyrics on “Shootin’ the Rodeo,” “dig through the shits I gave once, much more desperate and hopeless,” are relatable to me currently. Grasping for the motivation I used to have to be a better person, to do the things I care about and spend time with the people I cared about. Definitely adding to the “my personality and experiences” playlist. This message continues in the next song with lyrics such as, “Was I trying hard enough growing up? I’m old enough to give up. Endless sleep” which are uncomfortably accurate to my current state. I lost motivation this morning and decided to work on this review for a couple minutes before taking a nap and these are the first lyrics that played when I unpaused the album. This album is truly feeling like the more sober version of 40s for Algernon, which I reviewed last week.

As almost always with midwest emo, track seven has a nonsense title. Butterflies Drink Turtle Tears seems to have nothing to do with the song, at least not to the naked eye. It’s during this track that I came to a realization with the lyrics. There’s this visceral meaning to what they’re saying, but it’s missing the glue that usually holds songs together. There’s so much focus on riffs, drum fills, and straight to the point lyrics that it’s missing out on having catchy hooks or a more followable melody. Most of the lyrics are even missing rhymes. Now are these things music needs? No, they’re not. This album is proof of that. But I do wonder if they’ll add that fluff into future releases. Their single from 2020, “Jimmy can Jump,” features more of what I just mentioned, and I can’t say I prefer it to this new release. This album has more of a Michael Cera Palin vibe, specifically their single, “Portrait of a Woman on a Couch With Cats.” That song is also more of a narrative; one difference is Michael Cera Palin has more personal realizations and growth within that one song.

I’d definitely recommend this album if you’re looking for something emo, unique, and disorienting. Track nine, the final track, makes you feel like you’re spinning with an interlude that is just begging to be listened to while sprawled out on your bed on a cold fall day. I’d argue the best way to listen to this entire album is turning off all your lights, opening your windows (especially if it’s mild to moderately windy), putting on the best over-ear headphones you have, and getting into a comfortable position. Then close your eyes and fully experience the 25 minutes of condensed and concentrated music. Once you’ve listened, hope that your other favorite bands will be inspired by Year Twins.