The band has garnered a lot of local success and recognition since forming in 2013, but, in terms of lineup stability, there have been a few bumps in the road. The five-track Something Worth Saving (released June 7) shows the pay-off for enduring through the turbulence — Friday Giants have refined their sound into something that feels more confident and focused than ever.
After a 2015 debut EP, the band released its debut album, Twenty Nothings, in 2017, leading to an extended period of career milestones that included local music award nominations and performances at the Bunbury Music Festival and Vans Warped Tour. But by the end of last year, the group’s singer and second guitarist departed, leaving the core trio of bassist Zac Taylor, guitarist Chuck Ralenkotter and drummer Logan Boatright to figure out how to pick up the pieces.
Turns out, those were all of the pieces they needed. Taylor took over the lead singer role and the three musicians (guitarist Mason Stamper joined later) found their new groove, which isn’t too remarkably different from their established sound, just more direct and impactful.
"The falling-out at the end of our 2018 run was strangely the best thing that could have happened to the band," Taylor says of the shake-up and rebound. "Last year was a clear sign that this had become more than a hobby, and that this group was capable of the things we've been dreaming about as kids. When things jumped to that level, It became very clear who was serious about this and whose priorities were elsewhere, and that's a tricky thing about being in a serious band. If you are not 100 percent in, you're dragging everyone down with you and that's just not fair to the ones putting everything on the line."
There’s a stronger and more defined melodic proficiency on display on Something Worth Saving. The band’s previous music was full of Pop Punk-like hooks and paired with guttural Hardcore vocals to create Friday Giants’ hodge-podge sound. In their current state, there’s still the scream/sung dynamic, but there’s more consistency — it doesn’t sound as much likes two different bands cut and pasted together. Similarly, the group’s mesh of Metal, Punk and Pop Rock has become much more fluid and less schizophrenic.
Something Worth Saving shows evolution at work — through growth, change and persistence, Friday Giants honed in our their strengths, built upon them and got even better. Taylor says there has been some backlash from fans who aren’t thrilled with the recent changes, but with Friday Giants’ current sound, the group shouldn’t have any trouble finding new followers to more than make up for it.
Something Worth Saving is available now on most major digital platforms, including via fridaygiants.bandcamp.com. Click below to stream/download.
Friday Giants celebrate the EP’s release this Saturday with a concert at Bogart’s (2621 Vine St., Corryville, bogarts.com). Here Come Here, A Liar’s Eyes and Settle Your Scores will also perform. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $5.
Visit fridaygiants.com for more band info.
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