It took a little time, but we're proud to present an American pressing of the debut Ye.Stem LP.
This record has never been far from my speakers since I first heard it. It totally captured me and it took me some time to understand why this was emotionally resonating with me so hard.
Musically, Ye.Stem features most of the classic audio trademarks of their previous band, the legendary Post Regiment. That real particular sense of melody and riff-crafting, that iconic bass tone, that distinct galloping drumbeat, that specific dynamic of vocal arrangements. While the other ex-Post Regiment bands (El Banda, Morus) can loosely be described as "sounding like Post Regiment!"....this REALLY sounds like Post Regiment...which makes sense, since it's Post Regiment with a different singer.
BUT
It's also totally different.
And that's what really captured my attention.
I've found it easiest to tell people "it sounds like if Post Regiment stopped sounding like Armia". Because I find that more tactful than calling a punk record "mature" or saying that a punk band has "evolved", as if punk records are inherently immature or basic by default. But it's that feeling of "maturity", of walking forward into one's true identity, that keeps me listening to this record over and over.
The Post Regiment LPs are some of my favorite records ever. I will never forget the way they made me feel when I was a depressed teenager, walking around with my portable CD player blowing out my eardrums blasting "Slowa o...". You'd better believe I have first two Post Regiment albums on both vinyl and CD. Punk is simply the best. I still listen to my Post Regiment records plenty often.
But also, I was a teenager. Now I'm an adult. I've changed, my worldview still stems from the same foundation but it's expanded, become more nuanced, become more rich and considered. My emotions are different. I connect to the world around me in different ways. Part of me is still that guy with an afro jumping off a stage in my underwear only to tear my ACL. But most of me, frankly, is not. That's natural. 'I guess this is growing up'.
When I listen to the Ye.Stem LP, I hear adults on a similar journey, having transitioned from the "raging hardcore band" of our youth to a thoughtful, nuanced, subtle and complex, crafted, MATURE punk band. A punk band that's cast aside its youthful hero worships and grown into its own artistic voice. The bright combustion of youth growing all sorts of different shades as the fire reaches into full development, the explosion might have subsided but the fire still burns. Is that what it means to grow older in punk?
I don't speak any Polish so I can only judge from how the songs make me feel. And this is a record that makes me feel like growing up isn't the worst thing in the world.
