Previous Diagnoses:
Paradise Lost|Primus|Faith No More|Paramore|HEALTH|Dir En Grey|Mc Ren|Black Light Burns|Shellac|Nickelback|Daft Punk|Nathanael Larochette|My Epic|
Band/Artist: My Epic
Origins: Charlotte, North Carolina
Founded: 2005
Current Members:
Aaron Stone – vocals, guitar
Tanner Morita – bass, guitar, keyboard, backing vocals
Nate Washburn – guitars
Previous Members:
Jeremiah Austin – bass
“Cousin” Matt Doran – drums
Jesse Stone – drums, backing vocals
Studio albums: 4
Active: Yes
Welcome denizens of Sputnik and welcome to the thirteenth edition of A diagnosis from a (faux) Doctor. Today’s medical examination is going to be on Charlotte, North Carolinians, My Epic. I’ve been going through a renaissance of sorts with the band and have been fervently playing their discography on the regular the last couple months now. As such, I thought it would be good to analyse their work as it’s really surprised me. I was always a lover of Behold and thought Yet was a great album, but I didn’t fully grasp the extent of their talents. As we shall touch on, this is primarily down to the fact I don’t gravitate towards extended plays – something the band has solely focused on for the last decade now, until only recently breaking the cycle with their 2024 album, Loriella. However, my eyes are open and I feel My Epic deserve to be in this series where, hopefully, people who haven’t listened to their music before will check them out after reading this article. So without out further delay, let me grab my stethoscope and let’s get into this.
I Am Undone (2008)
The Doctor’s rating: 3.5/5
Analysis: I Am Undone is a solid debut album for the Charlotte, North Carolina trio. The band walked out of the gates with a clear vision in mind, the bulk of the sound being post-hardcore, which will form the baseplate for future works to come. It’s a record filled with pretty post-rock passages, some nice string arrangements, and a raw energy that leans towards Glassjaw’s brand of post-hardcore. Unfortunately, the Achillies Heel of I Am Undone comes from the abysmal production which does pretty severe damage to the songs overall, making them feel one-dimensional and rather lifeless, despite the fact the songwriting itself is on the contrary: a range of dynamic and varied sounds being squashed in a vacuum-packed seal during the mixing and mastering processes. If this were to be re-recorded and mixed with a modern My Epic production, I think this would be up there with Yet, at times maybe even better. The songs themselves are great, with Glassjaw influences all over this thing and some nice alt-rock ideas bands like Earshot were messing with around the same time. The issue however, as stated, comes from how the album is recorded. It’s a shame really, because there’s great potential here.
Prescription: Great songwriting; bad production. It’s worth checking out for songs like “-” and “The Oil Press”, but it’s not up to par with future works. Jam 1-2 times a day for a week, then listen to it as necessary.
Yet (2010)
The Doctor’s rating: 4/5
Analysis: Yet was my introduction to My Epic, a sophomore record filled with burgeoning post-rock vistas, gnashing post-hardcore riffs and a vestige of raw energy being carried over from I Am Undone. Fortunately the production is vastly improved this time round, thus relieving My Epic of any hindersome criticisms and allowing the music to express itself justly. The results tap into the group’s talents as songwriters and, in hindsight, the final product feels like a stopgap album that refines their abrasive proclivities whilst experimenting with a moodier soundscape that foreshadows the masterpiece they’d go on to produce next time. The likes of “Ashes”, “Lower Still” and “Pour” give you the guns-blazing post-hardcore sound, with plenty of buzzsaw guitar passages and gang shouting synonymous with the genre at the time, but the album is peppered with tracks like album closer “Perfector”, “Rich” and “Sound and Fury” which dabble in key elements Behold would later embrace. A really great album with very little fat on the sides.
Prescription: A great sophomore album that irons out a lot of the kinks in their debut, whilst trying out new things to push their sound further afield. Jam 2-3 times a day for a week, then listen to it as necessary.
Behold (2013)
The Doctor’s rating: 5/5
Analysis: My Epic’s third album is an astonishing artistic achievement that’s really grown on me since its release back in 2013. Sonically it aligns more with what I enjoy listening to anyway, but in recent years I’ve really grown to appreciate its depth and versatility. What makes Behold stand out from the rest of their already fantastic work is the enigmatic aura that enshrouds it – an oppressive, mystifying weight that rests on every melody and drum pattern, every guitar lead and lament from Aaron Stone’s gossamer vocal work. There’s an unwavering sincerity present here that isn’t as prevalent or as refined in other works; Behold is a perfect storm of superlative ideas with a pinpoint focus on how its executed, making it a special moment in the band’s career. The one-two punch that opens the record sets the tone perfectly: “Arise”, a moody introduction with a misty ambience, breaks open with an uplifting hopefulness that gradually segues into the formidable gloom of “Hail”. Its lucid, descriptive soundscapes emit this feeling of isolation in a dense fog that’s being pierced by rays of light in “Arise”, only to have it taken away by the time “Hail”’s chugging guitars and tom-heavy drums sap that delicate optimism away. This is something Behold excels at most – the ability to subtly shift tones in a way they’ve never done before. It’s use of electronics can’t go unstated, making the Mogwai-esque synth passages on “Zion” incredibly poignant and effective, or the ethereal haze of “Approach”. At 53 minutes in length, the record is a cinematic journey, filled with top-tier songwriting and lyrics with tangible depth to them. If you’ve never listened to the band before today, I would urge you to check out this album first, as it displays My Epic at the apotheosis of their creativity.
Prescription: Hitherto this is, by a country mile, their greatest album. Jam 3-4 times a day for a week, then listen to it as necessary.
Loriella (2024)
The Doctor’s rating: 3.7/5
Analysis: For a record that has taken eleven years to materialise, Loriella does a surprisingly good job delivering to the fans. Admittedly, the band never stopped making music after Behold, focusing more on EPs than producing a successor to their third album, but Loriella is nevertheless an excellent, competently crafted record that showcases so many of the band’s strongest qualities. The only real criticism here stems from Loriella’s myopic sound palette – there’s nothing particularly fresh sounding about any of the songs here, but you do hear a band utilising their well-honed toolset to the fullest. With the exception of “Late Bloomer” and “Make Believe” for being below standard (a rare moment indeed for these guys), the band’s fourth LP stands tall with some very strong tunes and a cohesive tone throughout. “Heavy Heart”’s upbeat disposition, “Northstar”’s worthwhile crescendo, “In the Air”’s head-bopping groove, and the epic journey “Red Hands” ensures you’re invested in the voyage until the end. For better or worse, Loriella feels very devil may care in its approach, lacking that solemn agency Behold was rolling with, but it’s one that works well with this back to basics, meat and potatoes method of songwriting. A worthwhile entry in the My Epic canon, in any case.
Prescription: Probably the easiest album to get into if you’re new to the band. It’s not to the level of Behold, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable album that maintains their steadfast reputation for releasing great-quality music. Jam 2-3 times a day for a week, then listen to it as necessary.
Supplements:
Ultraviolet (2018) / Violence (2019)
To be honest you can’t go far wrong with anything My Epic releases, all of their catalogue delivers in some way. However, post Behold there has been a lot more focus on EPs than LPs, all of which are quite different in style and tone. From the acoustic EP Broken Voice and Viscera, to the instrumental version of Behold and their debut EP This is Rescue, there’s plenty of variety to enjoy. Nevertheless, where I think My Epic excels most in between 2013’s Behold and 2024’s Loriella is in their double EP Ultraviolet (2018) and Violence (2019). Ironically this would have made up a fantastic album, but as it is, you’re getting two great EPs with different approaches. Ultraviolet is a synth-heavy project that relies more on pop-y hooks, while Violence sets out to bring the riff – both gambits are executed excellently. The former is slightly weaker than the latter (and had the two been treated as a full album could have mitigated this slight blemish), but both records do a fantastic job progressing and building upon their existing sound.
Doctor’s Notes:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Diagnosis:
My Epic are a weird one for me. I’ve been following their work since 2010, but it’s only recently where I’ve fully embraced and appreciated the work they’ve put in over the years. They’re an incredibly consistent band that has produced some fantastic music – Behold in particular being an outright work of art. The issue I have with the band, and it’s purely because of my preference for consuming LPs over EPs, is their penchant for focusing on EPs over the years and a likely factor in what caused this delayed reverence. Just over a decade on from Behold and Loriella is certainly a welcoming addition to their discography. Let us hope they continue on this trajectory and make another LP soon. However, I digress. If you’re a fan of post-rock and post-hardcore, the band will deliver the goods, so do yourself a favour and take the prescriptions.
