Deep State - Thought Garden (2017)

Nothing is a random act. Things come and go in a seemingly unpredictable order, but truth be told, it’s all meant to be.

Take Deep State, toiling under the low lights of Athens, making some of the best, pure-bent, rock joy heard in a generation in their crook neck portion of the east coast. Power, volume, transition, and then suddenly, they’re here: one of your new favourite bands, wearing out the motor on your turntable.

Deep State formed in Athens, Georgia not so long ago. Friends from bands, college, restaurant jobs — is there any other way this is done? Ryan was getting a master’s degree in guitar performance. Taylor wanted to form an aggressive/cathartic/punk band that was undeniably catchy. Melodies were floating around constantly in Taylor’s head until the noise became too much. He asked his friends for a hand fleshing out his ideas, and lo and behold, everything meshed in a beautiful way. The songs finished themselves. As the band tells it, Ryan, Michael, and Christian are the pros, and the most amateur musician in the band fronts it. A memorable, moment-producing formula.