“The programme turns frustration into something loud, sharp and impossible to ignore.”
Having been out of the full-on rock scene for nearly twenty years, composer and singer Damen Easton is now bringing out Limit State, a project featuring heavy riffs, ambitious songwriting and a more aggressive style of vocal performance. The band’s first track, “Out Loud”, instantly shows off this style through punchy punk energy, distorted guitars and sharp dissonant interruptions which give the song a continuously tense feeling.
‘Out Loud’ clearly shows a sense of tension. The song is about frustration, disruption and the difficulties of expressing yourself openly, and Limit State doesn’t just convey these feelings in the lyrics; the music itself contributes to the message. A steady rhythm, influenced by punk, drives the song on until sudden jagged guitar lines interrupt its flow. It is precisely these interruptions that give the track an unsettled feeling, somewhat as if the music is having the same difficulty in communicating as the narrator is. This method grants Limit State’s “Out Loud” a special place in the alternative rock genre. At first the vocals stay fairly subdued so that the guitars and the rhythm section can take on most of the weight. Later on, Easton does finally break free with strong rock screams. The shift is noticeable since the song has been largely restraining itself. The way the vocals burst out at this point sounds more like an emotional release than something that could be expected in a typical rock performance. Another significant standout is the guitar playing; “Out Loud” originated from Easton’s wish to produce a piece in which guitarist **Dave Wolfberg** could truly display his abilities. The solo taken is not one that sticks to safe territory, since rather than opting for a traditional melodic section Wolfberg moves into rather wild and dissonant areas, giving the song a nearly chaotic character. Although it is abrasive at times, this is precisely what makes it work.
It is interesting that “Out Loud” was the quickest song Easton managed to write for the album; he already had the lyrical idea, the melodies and a great deal of the instrumental direction worked out in his mind, the arrangement forming itself during an unexpectedly ordinary moment—while he was in the shower. This spontaneous start is in keeping with the straightforward nature of the track. Different from some of the more layered ideas associated with Limit State, “Out Loud” states exactly what it needs to say without hiding behind an excess of metaphor. Easton’s song also marks a significant shift in his musical direction. Prior to his work on Limit State, he had progressed from experimental pop through to contemporary classical music and composition; he obtained a master’s degree in composition and served as a professor of music theory, experiences which naturally broadened his musical vocabulary. Nevertheless, “Out Loud” doesn’t come across as an academic exercise since it is physical, loud and firmly based in rock. Limit State features Easton and Wolfberg alongside bassist Nicolas Dinucci, producer Chris King from Moon Palace Productions and drummer Till Richter. The group’s music draws on grunge, progressive rock, metal and post-punk yet remains firmly rooted in alternative rock. The outcome is music that can be complex without sacrificing its raw impact. Since it is the first track on the Limit State album, “Out Loud” functions especially well in that it sets up the emotional tension right from the start. The song is concerned with the desire to speak clearly but realizes that expressing oneself becomes complicated due to frustration, alienation and all the things going on around you. The guitars sound restlessly active, the rhythm continues to move forward and eventually the vocals break through the restraint.
“Damen Easton’s “Out Loud” is more than just a move back to rock; it is the expression of an artist who is rediscovering how powerful it can be to stop holding back.”
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