Deep End Lifestyle: “Outcast (Say when)” a balance of simmering rage and focused melody
Formed in 2017, Deep End Lifestyle is a Midwest Rock band with Influences ranging from Tom Petty all the way to Blink 182. They are working hard to bring Rock n’ Roll back to the plains and Manhattan Kansas with high energy, well composed songs, and catchy melodies. There comes a time in every person’s life when they have to grow up. At one point, we must all put aside the ways and mannerisms of a child, and become an adult. Growing up isn’t easy though. Getting old is much worse. In the super postmodern era of today’s society that often seems to rob your human spirit, it’s refreshing to hear an authentic record, instead of more garbage that does not delineate real life. Deep End Lifestyle – rather surprisingly for a young band – tackles the issues and fears faced by senior citizens and old age, on their single “Outcast (Say when)”.
There is an undeniably mature writing style present on this track, particularly with the use of metaphor and rhyme. In addition to the on point lyrics, the songwriting is also excellent. For a band caught between punk angst and rock crunch, it’s really quite the accomplishment to write a song that also concentrates on the more melodic side of the music.
The band technically follows the standard verse-chorus-bridge formula, but they also focus on buildups and climaxes; elements that we rarely see in young new bands.
The vocals as well as the bass and guitar interplay showcases a perfect balance of simmering rage and focused melody. From this explosive entrance, the track wastes no time getting further down to business.
Just as the vocal stylings drop in and out of falsetto, the guitar hits with hard, chunky distorted chords, presenting the listener with a dark, somewhat ominous sound, a mood which stays throughout the song. At the midway point, however, everything cuts in, as Deep End Lifestyle take the track into a euphoric, full-on guitar driven state.
The guitars shift between hard and driving, and muted and moody, supporting the lyrics – the vocals start low and then search for unheard-of heights, as the singer seems to literally be reaching for the heavens in certain places. It’s right on the mark – instilling feelings of urgency and desperation every time you hear it, giving the song’s overarching theme substance and attitude. This is one of those tracks that definitely deserves to be played loud.
All in all, “Outcast (Say when)” delivers a definitely great crossover punk and rock sound, that include mature lyrics with meaning. This is a record steeped in vigor and vitality. It understands that life is fleeting, and, for all its peaks, troughs, triumphs and failures, is something to be grabbed by both hands.
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