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Every Time I Die was a metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, USA, that existed from 1998 to 2022. For most of the band's career, the line-up was centred on brothers Keith (vocals) and Jordan Buckley (guitar), as well as rhythm guitarist Andy Williams with bassist Stephen Micciche being in the band for a collective 15 of its 24 years. After spending the first decade of their career on the Ferret Music label, they signed with Epitaph Records in 2008 and remained there until their split in early 2022. Read more on Last.fm
I credit the frightening new intensity not to the full-time addition of drummer Ryan “Legs” Leger, but to (frightening) axeman Andy Williams’ time on the road subbing for (frightening) noise-roar-terror outfit Trap Them and falling in love with (frightening) demon-riffers Black Breath. The riffs are just all-out mayhem, and Keith Buckley proves he’s still among my favorite writers. 15 years in, everyone’s in top form, including Joe Barresi, who got behind the boards and made ’em sound meatier than ever before. If this one doesn’t emerge at or near the top of my list of year-end favorites, it’ll be because the Apocalypse prevented me from writing one.
I like ‘Ex Lives’ as a whole, but I have a couple of major gripes that keep me from loving it. Musically, ETID is doing some really interesting stuff with their sound, and I find the faster riffs and, believe it or not, the singing/choruses to be the strongest elements of the record. Yet, after midway through the first song, all the way to the 8th track, I feel bored. With the exception of some great moments on ‘I Suck (Blood)’, 80% of all the songs come across trite to me. Starting with ‘Revival Mode’, though, this becomes a BLISTERINGLY excellent record. ‘Indian Giver’ is one of the best takes I’ve heard from this genre in a long time.
On the other hand: lyrically, ‘Ex Lives’ brings out the cynic in me, but probably not in the way Keith Buckley imagined. It’s hard for me to take ETID seriously, and I don’t think they’ve wanted to be previously—so it’s odd to hear an entire album seemingly dedicated to weighty philosophy and religion. And, for the creative wordsmith that Buckley can be, the whole thing comes across heavy-handed.
If the Mayans are as great at predicting the end of the world as we know it, as Every Time I Die is at continuously releasing spectacular albums; then I’m glad this album exist before our un-timely demise. Favorite track, “Partying is Such Sweet Sorrow”.