Esprit De Corps (Denver, CO)
Under Constant Influence EP (self-released)
Release Date: October 20, 2009
1. Mild Herb
2. Black Gold
3. On Conquering (mp3)
4. Way Too Rowdy
5. Forget The Titanic, We Sink Faster (mp3)
Other than owning the unique distinction of being the first band on the Beartrap roster that features a keytar player, not to mention a sorta-difficult-to-pronounce French moniker, Colorado’s Esprit De Corps (\is-ˌprē-dә-ˈkȯr\) is quickly asserting itself as one Denver’s up-and-comers amidst a longstanding, exciting and vital DIY punk scene.
It’s an honor, especially considering the Mile High City’s notable – if somewhat unheralded – track record of fostering some of the most intriguing underground bands in the U.S. today. Esprit De Corps earns it though with an addictive sound that falls somewhere between Song Of Zarathustra’s kinetic, driving attack, the swirling layers of These Arms Are Snake’s aggressive post-whatever stylings, Small Brown Bike’s melodic, textured, yet always propulsive emo-punk hybrid and the anguished, raw delivery of hometown brethren Planes Mistaken For Stars.
Maybe Colorado flies under the radar because its isolation, at least in relation to other metropolitan areas (see: No Coast Death Squad). Still, there’s no doubt that The Centennial State can lay claim to some truly amazing and influential groups over the course of the last fifteen years years: the previously mentioned PMFS, Christie Front Drive, Pinhead Circus, Angel Hair, Acrobat Down, The Gamits, Drag The River, The Blackout Pact, Ghost Buffalo, Armchair Martian, The Fairlanes, The Nobodys, Chad Price and occasionally The Descendents, just to name a few. And of course there’s a fresh batch of new talent as well, such as Only Thunder, Solar Bear, Love Me Destroyer, Bankrobber, Mustangs And Madras and Git Some.
In any case, don’t bother telling Esprit De Corps that the Denver music scene often gets short shrift; they’ve heard it before. Beside, the semi-secret bonds of a shared city tend to encourage those bands to support one another even more – a principle that the boys of The EDC take to heart as the term “Esprit De Corps” is defined as the enthusiasm or devotion that members of a group feel toward the group as a whole.
“The idea behind the name is brotherhood and community,” says front man Chris Gardner. “It’s having an attachment to others based on coming together through a common passion; our passion is the music we make and sharing it with others who enjoy it.”
On that note, the band’s debut EP, Under Constant Influence, is certainly a dynamic and impassioned set of five songs, but it’s one that digs its heels in a little deeper and doles out an extra uppercut or two before roughly scraping the listener off the pavement with its gravelly melodies and frenetic, danceable rhythms. Like other Denver bands, Esprit De Corps might be overcompensating for its landlocked lot in life. Or perhaps these barnburners are merely the result of five great friends laying it all on the line for the sake of camaraderie and the love of art. Whatever the case, there’s no denying that The EDC cranks out an urgent, visceral, yet decidedly melodic brand DIY rock, firmly entrenching itself in a scene that continues to quietly thrive and grow.
Under Constant Influence was recorded by Matt VanLeuven in the band’s hometown of Denver, CO at the famed 8 Houses Down (Teenage Bottlerocket, Discount, Ninja Gun, Planes Mistaken For Stars). The band will self-release the EP on October 20, 2009 and is currently recording their debut full-length follow-up (also at 8 Houses Down), tentatively titled You’re No Good For Me. For more information, go to www.myspace.com/theedc or www.beartrappr.com/esprit-de-corps
Press Contact: Chuck Daley / Beartrap PR / chuck@beartrappr.com / (704) 649-7128
