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Ateriavia

Regarding The Midwest: Sleeping (2005)
Lujo Records

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Contributed by: Brian
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on March 18th 2005

Do you know what happens when you ask Adam for one album?

You get half the fucking label’s catalog. Or a third, whatever.

So in getting the rather swell 2003 debut from soon-to-be prog-screamo pioneers (and recent Equal Vision signees) the Fall Of Troy, I also received a small handful of somewhat forgettable and/or boring discs courtesy of Lujo Records. But this one, despite its initially perturbing cover and ridiculously obnoxious song titles, stuck out for sure.

While I’m sure I expected a Minus The Bear-type thing going on after glancing over the track listing, Illinois’s Ateriavia play fairly experimental post-hardcore in the realm of mewithoutYou or the lighter, more atmospheric moments from the midsection of Since By Man’s We Sing The Body Electric. The semi-frantic yelling style compliments a driven body of carefully manipulated guitars, sometimes to the point of feathery picking and at other times the drop-to-the-knees-to-play-with-the-effects-pedal-to-no-end act. The band conducts their subtle version of melody so that it’s overpowered by more ethereal sound-scapes but still present nonetheless.

Regarding The Midwest: Sleeping opens with a dreamy yet pounding landscape of an instrumental in “We’re Not Dutch, But We Wear These Wooden Shoes Like We’re From Montana.” What follows is a mercurial yet perfectly flowing set of emotions in the same vein, with a strange approach towards building and destroying an overall feel for a song. “If I’m Correct, There Should Be A Song Around Here Somewhere. Oh Yeah, Here It Is!” has neat, dual time signature changes in its first and second halves, featuring some above par octaves, frames sandwiched by interspersed yells and desperation-sounding scenes.

Though perhaps far short of a completely overwhelming experience, there’s very few dull moments on Ateriavia’s debut EP. Regarding The Midwest: Sleeping is both ambitious and cohesive, especially for such a young group (their ages range from 17-19), and in realizing so, it’s hard to imagine where they go from here.

MP3s
This Sierra Classic Is Of A Prestigious Fleet.
Oh, You Must Have Mistaken John Elway For Someone Who Can’t Throw A Vortex The Length Of Two Football Fields.
If I’m Correct, There Should Be A Song Around Here. Oh Yeah, Here It Is!

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Anonymous (May 18, 2005)

AH also i forgot to say that FOT's album on Lujo kicked sooooooo much ass and I hope that with Equal Vision's help they make something that can match it (yeah i like alot of Equal Vision bands u guessed it)

Anonymous (May 18, 2005)

Ateriavia has alot of talent. Underoath and OTMOP also rock and i doubt any of them ripped each other off, they sound alike yeah, most bands do now, its hard to be original when everything has been tried so ppl should try to be more open minded. And Minus the bear can get away with silly song titles, but alot of other bands are doing it to. anyways great album and great review

Anonymous (March 24, 2005)

ateriavia broke up earlier this week... their singer quit

Anonymous (March 21, 2005)

only minus the bear can get away with silly song titles

Anonymous (March 21, 2005)

Score's for the song titles. Stupid on whatever level they're trying to play it off as.

Anonymous (March 20, 2005)

Yeah, Rubes sure was the place where they started to get successful, playing with shitty anarchist punk bands in front of 12 people.

Anonymous (March 20, 2005)

Fuck them if it wasent for me getting them booked at Rubes they would still be playing shitty shows in Northwest indiana.

Anchors (March 20, 2005)

A) Both OTMOP albums, Sirens and Where You Are And Where You Want To Be were recorded before They're Only Chasing Safety. So if anybody's style was ripped, it was OTMOP. Not that it's even valid, those two bands still sound absolutely nothing alike. OTMOP is more chaotic and screamo oriented, with a lot more instrumental stuff, whereas Underoath opeted for an even more melodic hardcore album than The Changing Of Times. Again, I stress, if you think these bands sound alike, or that OTMOP stole Underoaths style, you're a fucking idiot.

B) If you go back to the thread for that City Of Caterpillar review, you'll see I'm not alone in thinking that's an incredible album. You're in the minority.

Anonymous (March 20, 2005)

But what do you know, you gave City Of Caterpillar 4 1/2 stars. Someone must have been in a giving mood that day.

Anonymous (March 20, 2005)

OTMOTP sounds like a stripped down version of Underoath's new album.

Anonymous (March 19, 2005)

god, i miss OTMOP. long island's "music" is really lacking now.

Anchors (March 19, 2005)

If you honestly think those two bands sound alike, you've never listened to either.

Anonymous (March 19, 2005)

On The Might Of Princes? You mean Underoath? No thanks.

That dude is right about the Dischord thing though, I always thought Ateriavia sounded like Minor Threat and Dag Nasty, you fucking dolt.

Anonymous (March 19, 2005)

History will view the locust in much of the same light as Mao's Great Leap Forward.

I know I already do.

-Ken