Crushed into the ground by a steady touring cycle that followed the release of their excellent Define / Redefine EP, melodic hardcore outfit One Win Choice have sunk into their niche with the expansive, impressive Conveyor. The most immediately striking thing about this record is just how great it sounds. With drums tracked in veteran producer Vince Ratti's studio and the rest taken care of in the band's home setup, the layered guitars and inventive soundscapes that pull the record together create the kind of immersive sonic experience that elevates releases like this above the noisy punk fray. A lot of nice-sounding guitars wouldn't mean anything if the band weren't writing songs as powerful as "Frame Your Favorite Pictures" and "Who Forgot the Itinerary?," but the band's compelling mix of East Coast melodic hardcore and the anthemic catchiness native to their new home of Philadelphia. Vacillating between headfirst aggression and soaring choruses, Conveyor succeeds in sounding like a hammer to your head while leaving you walking away humming lyrics or a particularly memorable guitar line.
You guys took a somewhat unconventional route to recording this album. What was the process of putting Conveyor together like?
Vocalist Dan Kloza: When it came to planning for the recording, we really wanted to have a flexible timetable, as well as the freedom to experiment with different instrumental parts and sounds. It was definitely the most relaxed recording experience we've been a part of; we got to experiment with different guitars, amplifiers and even additional songwriting as well. Plus, we got to watch The Matrix about one hundred times and reacquaint ourselves with the Harry Potter films.
How has your relocation from Toms River, NJ to Philadelphia, PA affected the band?
Being from a suburb like Toms River, there really was no steady music community. Venues are harder to come by and there were real ups and downs to the amount of local bands, as well as people willing to go out to shows. Throughout the last few years, we have played in Philadelphia a bunch and have made a lot of friends here, so it was a pretty easy move for us to make. Since moving, we have been lucky enough to be a part of some awesome shows and an amazing music community. There is such an abundance of great people and great bands here that it kind of spoils us, in a way. But I guess that is the advantage of living in a city that is a standard spot to hit for almost every band touring the country.
(Jump Start)You guys took a somewhat unconventional route to recording this album. What was the process of putting Conveyor together like?
Vocalist Dan Kloza: When it came to planning for the recording, we really wanted to have a flexible timetable, as well as the freedom to experiment with different instrumental parts and sounds. It was definitely the most relaxed recording experience we've been a part of; we got to experiment with different guitars, amplifiers and even additional songwriting as well. Plus, we got to watch The Matrix about one hundred times and reacquaint ourselves with the Harry Potter films.
How has your relocation from Toms River, NJ to Philadelphia, PA affected the band?
Being from a suburb like Toms River, there really was no steady music community. Venues are harder to come by and there were real ups and downs to the amount of local bands, as well as people willing to go out to shows. Throughout the last few years, we have played in Philadelphia a bunch and have made a lot of friends here, so it was a pretty easy move for us to make. Since moving, we have been lucky enough to be a part of some awesome shows and an amazing music community. There is such an abundance of great people and great bands here that it kind of spoils us, in a way. But I guess that is the advantage of living in a city that is a standard spot to hit for almost every band touring the country.