I’ve always been a big fan of almost any project Anthony Green has been a part of. When I heard Anthony had joined up with Tim Payne, Tucker Rule, Frank Iero, and Travis Stever, I was super excited! I was a huge fan of L.S. Dunes debut album, Past Lives. It came out during a really intense time for me, and I binged it hard. My biggest gripe with that album was that, at times, it felt disjointed, and some songs came off as slightly undercooked. On Violet, the songs feel much more fleshed out, like a band jamming in a room together. You can tell they had a blast putting this together, and it shows—their future feels limitless.

One thing I loved about Past Lives was how it was a straight-up guitar rock record. They’ve kept that mantra alive here while still creating songs that are sonically interesting and experimental. Below are my track-by-track first reactions to the album.

1. Like Magick

Fantastic opener to set the mood for the record. It starts with Anthony singing a cappella: “Won’t you count me off.” When the band comes in, it’s almost unexpected but full of energy. The song feels like it could’ve been an Anthony Green solo track, but filtered through L.S. Dunes. There’s a jam at the end where Travis rips a killer guitar solo. What an experience to kick things off.

2. Fatal Deluxe

We’ve had this one for a while, but hearing it in context with the first song made it hit even harder. It’s always interesting how a single feels when it’s part of the album’s flow, and this works perfectly as track two. The mix on this track is phenomenal—Will Yip and Vince Ratti absolutely crushed it.

3. I Can See It Now…

This one opens with driving toms and blown-out bass. It’s almost hard to figure out what’s going on harmonically until the guitars come in. The bass tone is dirty in the best way and drives the energy here. If someone told me this was a Descensus or The Amulet B-side, I’d believe it. Anthony’s falsetto and vocal lines are VERY Circa Survive on this track. There’s a moment where the band drops out, and Anthony belts out “Pressure” repeatedly—it’s such an emotional highlight. This kind of moment was something I felt was missing from the last album.

4. Violet

Absolutely stunning. The 3/4 time signature gives it a unique feel, and the drums occasionally playing in 4/4 adds an interesting tension. Anthony crushes it vocally, and the low vocal hook of “You’re gonna get what you deserve” is such an earworm—it makes the song incredibly memorable.

5. Machines

This was my favorite of the singles. Anthony’s delivery in the chorus is amazing—probably one of his best with Dunes. This track really showcases Frank’s strength as a rhythm guitarist. When I first heard it, I thought it was my favorite Dunes song. Funny enough, the closer, “Forgiveness,” ended up taking that title.

6. You Deserve to Be Haunted

The band mentioned in the press release that this album would take you on a sonic journey, and this track delivers exactly on that promise. The bass is insane on this one—possibly Tim’s standout performance on the album. There’s also a killer riff from Travis toward the end that ties it all together. This is one of the most aggressive tracks on the record and will definitely have a lot of replay value.

7. Holograms

This one stands out because the guitars are more melodic and less heavy, but the bass and drums drive the chorus. It’s a unique sound that makes it memorable. The late Circa Survive vibe is strong here. Another interesting element: the bass starts syncopated, but there’s no context for the rhythm until the drums come in. When they do, it almost makes you rethink how you heard the intro.

8. Paper Tigers

Such an interesting choice for a single. The loud, grungy guitars are unique compared to the rest of the album. I almost get a Pixies vibe from this one—it blends so many cool influences. Have I mentioned how much the bass rips on this record? Also, the lower Anthony vocals in the chorus are perfect for the vibe of this track.

9. Things I Thought Would Last Forever

Possibly the heaviest L.S. Dunes song to date. This one hits hard. There are breakdown-like moments, and Anthony brings some really aggressive singing and screaming.

10. Forgiveness

This song instantly became my favorite L.S. Dunes track. It has a strong MCR vibe, but Anthony layers one of his classic soaring melodies over it. I got chills several times while listening. The strings in the bridge and final chorus are a really nice touch that really gives the song a cinematic feel!

Written by Teebs