WU LYF - Go Tell Fire To The Mountain

WU LYFE (World Unite! Lucifer Youth Foundation) is a band best known for attempting to make themselves universally unknown. Their ideal of advertising themselves by not selling themselves has made them popular throughout the internet and many people seem to be drawn into the band because of this intentional mystery that surrounds them, and their album, Go Tell Fire To The Mountain.

The way in which WU LYF has become so popular and why their debut album has become so highly anticipated is fantastic. The English quartet have declined countless invitations to do interviews or to perform live, as well as countless offers from record labels willing to produce and market their album. I think it shows how powerless record labels have become in the music industry, as WU LYF clearly shows how they generated a lot of interest by releasing a series of early recordings.

In today’s world where we heavily rely on the internet, it shows how easy it is for bands to produce their albums without the need for record labels. The Skints are now in the later stages of mixing their new album after allowing fans to pledge donations so they could raise enough money to work in a studio. Also, many bands these days use the internet to stream or to offer their albums for free because it proves that it is a great resource that generates interest and promotions, and record labels cannot do anything about that.

Go Tell Fire To The Mountain was recorded in a disused church, so the great acoustics contribute a lot to the reverb that is present in WU LYF’s sound. The instruments used have a great collective sound, as if it has been mixed within a thunderstorm. The cymbals of the drums seem to dissipate with every crash, the guitar flutters around the sound like trees swaying in the breeze, and the organ seems to encapsulate each element into a controlled yet relaxed circle of noise. Frontman Ellery Roberts proves he can scream as his voice brings an extra feeling of pure emotion that gives off a much rawer, fragile sense to each track on the album.

The only complaint is that there are some moments where the instruments or the vocals become over the top for the purpose of attempting to be unbelievably emotional and raw. In the track Cave Song, Roberts’ vocals become too rough and regrettably ruin the flow of the song, and it seems like it was a ploy for the band to be considered very emotional, but it fails for them.

For all the mystery that surrounds WU LYF and Go Tell Fire To The Mountain, it doesn’t live up to the high expectations created by the fans. I respect the band’s general middle finger to record labels and the general way to promoting themselves, but the sound they display does not appear special enough to really be worth all this effort. But, all anticipation aside, this is a solid debut effort and I enjoyed it, just not as much as I was expecting.

[7/10]