The 30th of February - Silence

One of the hallmarks of a great record is its ability to grab your attention and get you moving from the first few seconds. More important still is a record’s ability to keep you interested until the very last note. Displaying diversity in sound without underselling a band’s strengths is a daunting task, but with their new EP Silence, CT’s The 30th of February prove that they are more than up to the challenge.

The music that The 30th of February collects on Silence is the very antithesis of the title, raucous and unrestrained. Guitar riffs tower like the walls of an ancient city—every tone is so intimately designed that each listen reveals something new. The drums form hypnotic grooves that rise and fall like ocean waves, while the bass punches up the low end in deep and rumbling tones. The 30th combine all efforts to create gorgeous and brooding soundscapes in each piece, making it too damn easy to get lost in the instrumentation.

There is a ton of dynamic movement across Silence, and nowhere is it more apparent than in the vocals. Verses haunt in quiet corners before striking out furiously in the choruses. Lines like “I can’t cry / I can’t fly / but I won’t die for you” carry a tense and deep emotion that belies their disaffected delivery. Additionally, each song features powerful and pretty harmonies, further adding to the soundscape and tying the human presence into the monstrous instrumentation.

Despite their extremely distinctive sound, The 30th of February manages to impress each track on Silence with its own distinct mood and vitality. “Captain” drawls across a gritty chord progression before colliding with the hyper punk anthem “Codeine Chaser.” “Caffeinated Dreamscape” sulks on a heavy and hypnotic bass riff, and “I’m Alright” rides a simple, undulating chord progression until it rushes forth into a chaotic coda. Each of these four tracks create very distinct impressions of this band’s capability by exploring very different sonic territories and moods. Yet these tracks belong together—to remove any single song or even rearrange them would serve only to diminish the captivating power of this record.

Silence sounds like a voyage into the underworld, each song a leg of the journey deeper into the unknown. Rich soundscapes and emotive performances leave me feeling a palpable charge of energy after each listen. The 30th of February flaunts both their skillful playing and their tight writing on Silence. Their distinctive, driving sound and expressive performances have me completely addicted to this release; I truthfully cannot wait to see where they head next, and I can assure you that wherever this odyssey takes them, I will be right up against the barrier to cheer them on.

My Top Track: “I’m Alright”

You can find more from The 30th of February, including upcoming live shows and news, on Facebook. Then grab your own copy of Silence on their Bandcamp page.