Train Breaks Down was introduced to me by a bandmate of mine during a car drive. After further
research, I was extremely impressed with a lot of their artistry and who they are as a collective.
Members Ian H, Diego M, and Ian K are a three-piece LA-based Emo and post-hardcore band.
They are known for their fast hard hitting melodic distortion riffs and complex ethereal sound.
Before I even heard this EP I heard the song Permanent as Your Errors. This song might be one
of my favorite hardcore songs out right now. The way Ian combines his dry screaming with the
aggressive complex rhythm of the bass and drums is a highlight of this song. When I heard this
song I was so perplexed, their tone and the way they articulate certain riffs all come together to
form this masterpiece of a song. This song alone set me into a Train Breaks Down craze, the
sheer tonality of this is one of the most exciting things to come out of the so-cal screamo scene
to me. With contemporaries like VS-Self and New Found Interest In Connecticut its exciting to see
what potential the socal scene has in store.
While listening there are definitely clear influences in mind, Consider Your Position has that self
versed afflicted sound. Pull offs hammer-ons, weird time signature. The thing I appreciate about
this song is how real it stays, it doesn’t try too hard to make a draw out of the clearly talented
riffs. The vocals stay neutral, and although a bit quiet add this emotion of longing that I think was
intended on this project. It makes you want to hear more, and thats ultimately what this EP does
best. Its obviously a young group of individuals working on their passion.
I ended up doing the songs out of order, the last song, also the most popular song out of this EP
is called Fourty Hour Suit. All these songs are really groovy and this song takes a nice dig.
Throughout this EP there is multiple cases of Ian h’s clear style. Really nice clean licks that can
vary from midwest Emo tapping and sliding into hard crushing distortion riffs. Its easy to see why
people like this song so much, but it doesn’t do it for me like the other songs.
My total review of this EP is wow amazing job, cant wait to hear more. I give it an official 10/10,
If there one band I hope sticks it through in the California scene its this project.
