June 2nd, 2015, I was in a very different place in my life. I was madly in love, and she was madly in love with me, and my band was at the height of its existence. City of Crooks was directly supporting As Blood Runs Black for a mini-festival at The Epicentre, now closed to live music. I had been promoting the hell out of the show for at least a month and sold plenty of tickets for that night. The show turned out like we had all hoped. Plenty of local kids showed and raged hard to all the bands. My band performed right before ABRB with kids singing our single “Ascension” and freaking out to our newest songs. It was one of the most rewarding nights of my life as a person making, performing, and working music. All was right in the world, besides my dog recently passing away.
During ABRB’s set I was introduced to the current drummer of Volumes, one of my favorite bands, Nick Ursic who was suppose to play with another of my favorite bands Of Mice & Men at SOMA San Diego. Austin Carlile, OM&M vocalist, had a health scare with his heart again and the show was cancelled. Nick stopped by Epicentre to say hello to some people at my show. In a group I talked music with him and heard about what was going on with Volumes. We were all treated to a little piece of insider information from him. After that night Volumes were going into the studio to start writing and recording their next record. Nick seemed really excited and talked about how much they had longed to get all the time they needed to write and record. They had planned this for a long time and couldn’t wait to show the world what they had been working on for sometime. That was all great and I looked forward to Volumes, and my current future.
Over a year later so much has changed. The me from that night at Epicentre would never believe it, nor want to. I’m single, not doing music, and working full time. Volumes and vocalist Michael Barr parted ways but have resurfaced with Fearless Records, new member ex-Bury Your Dead Myke Terry, and a new record on the way. “Feels Good” is the first single from their third full length. It’s a representation of the band’s reemergence from whatever kept them silent of the better part of a year. Musically it’s classic Volumes. Lots of chugs and groves to jump and lose yourself to at their shows. Myke’s cleans provide what Michael’s couldn’t do before. He sounds natural and less produced. There were also rumors circulating uncredited vocalists like ex-Periphery Casey Sabol had contributed clean vocals on No Sleep. Myke has upgraded Volumes with proficiency while the band remains energetic.
On a personal level for me, maybe them, “Feels Good” takes joy in triumph from sadness, failure, whatever blight you’re coming from. Myke Terry explains “it’s horribly bleak when you’re down…” however “it feels good to come out on top.” I couldn’t help but play it again and again. I’ve made my own strides too moving out of my parent’s place soon and rooming with complete strangers. Today I woke for the first time in a little over 4 months not depressed, not sad, but happy and content. I felt positive. I wasn’t constantly thinking about her or me and my self-doubt. I had my coffee and thought about moving on and going to work. I’m looking forward to things and thinking about what I want to do.
Disaesthetic 