Doing Better: No Sleep

No Sleep is a new EP from Hamilton Township crooners Doing Better. A perfect example of well executed post-hardcore, this four song collection feel reminiscent of early Touché Amoré mixed with the modern twist of bands like Being As An Ocean. Each one of its tracks welcomes the listener into a tireless frenzy of angst.

The EP opens immediately with a head-bobbing chord progression that leads into a Tiny Moving Parts style elation. Don’t let the comparisons fool you though, Doing Better brings a fresh energy that is more respectful of its influences than it is derivative. The second track “Skin Tight” is a two-minute octane fest that lets up only briefly before delving back into a whirlwind of angst. The last track includes bubbly dance riffs that interject themselves seamlessly into the flurry of screams.

Weaknesses arise most prominently in song structure and clean vocals. While I personally find DelValle’s delivery genuine and endearing it is understandably an acquired taste. That is to say nothing of his screams though, which are the unbridled force of the entire EP. Either way his vocals serve much better than the guest spot on the third song “Reach”. A clichéd Jonny Craig-esque melody that falls off key only hurts the otherwise interesting song. The second feature, which appears on the last song “Lion Eyed”, is a rap verse that fairs much better. Jack Berry of Cook Thugless is unbelievably comfortable over the bridge, providing much needed to depth to finish out the record. Although most of the songs follow a uniform verse-chorus-bridge format, there are little gem riffs hidden about them.

No Sleep sounds exactly like its name suggests. A state of mind somewhere in between genuine aggression and nervous pleasure, often drifting back and forth, but never settling on either. Doing Better brings pure post-hardcore for the insomniac side of the brain.