By Sage Spirk, Contributor

[Fantasy Records; 2024]

Rating: 6/10

On Friday, rock band L.S. Dunes released their single “Paper Tigers” via Fantasy Records. This song follows their two other singles, “Machines” and “Fatal Deluxe” as the band teases their upcoming album, Violet. L.S. Dunes is an intriguing assortment of musicians; each member is established in their own right, as they come from notable bands such as My Chemical Romance, Circa Survive and Coheed and Cambria. Their debut album Past Lives was an experimental testament to what most would label post-hardcore emo, and “Paper Tigers” is simply no different. 

Lead singer Anthony Green has a unique vocal style — you either hate it with every fiber of your being or love it to death. Green, whose background stems from Circa Survive and Saosin, regularly tosses around guttural screams and piercing high notes. As far as “Paper Tigers” is concerned, Green utilizes his upper range and soft melodic vocals to sing lyrics, such as, “Bow down and shakes the Earth / Whatever moves the world / Remember, time doesn’t change our odds.” His choice to abandon his usual forte of explosive shouts that littered in Past Lives is a smart and tactful move that allows for the instrumental to truly take hold.

Read more: Movie Review: Anora

Guitarists Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance) and Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria) work together in order to curate moody riffs that match the spirit of lyrics like, “Emotional tripwire, are we alive?” or “Oh, Father, forgive us for all that’s done.” While drummer Tucker Rule (Thursday) and bassist Tim Payne (Thursday) were explosive with their dynamic playing on Past Lives, “Paper Tigers” seems to be stripped down. It gives the song a sullen feel, along with Green’s equally mellow voice. It makes for a languid composition that I would argue evokes more emotion from the listener than Green’s voice itself.

“Paper Tigers” is rudimentary. In comparison to L.S. Dunes’s previous works, the guitars are less layered, the drums beats and bass have less of a “punch” to them and the lyrics are succinct with each verse consisting of four lines. However, each instrument serves its purpose in accompanying Green’s voice. It’s simplistic but a solid track that definitely piques interest for what the rest of Violet will entail. Its two companions, “Machines” and “Fatal Deluxe,” are more charged instrumentally and lyrically, yet all three still feel more bare than the supergroup’s debut album. Despite its lack of complexities, “Paper Tigers” has still left many fans looking forward to the new year and what else L.S. Dunes has in store. 

For those interested in Violet, be sure to visit the band’s bandcamp and look out for the album’s release come January 31.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/2oCT4kkh0V83604cwYpUbn