Tag Archives: MakeWar

EP Review: MakeWar – Stay

MakeWar are easily one of the most exciting bands to hit the Fat roster in recent years. I have been a fan of them since they were a one man show called Sad & French and always knew the potential the band had as they grew.

Lucky for us, they dropped a nice surprise on a couple weeks back. No, they did not to a split with NOFX, Frank Turner, Me First or anything (yet), but they did drop an EP that made me equal parts sad and happy.

The Brooklyn, NY punk band has been gaining ground over the past couple of years with their catchy yet emotionally driven punk tracks and Stay is no exception. It may be just 4 songs, 2 unreleased and 2 of which are original takes on songs from their last release Get It Together, but they are all solid tracks and absolutely needed to be released for all to hear.

MakeWar

Listening to the opening track “Stay” brought forth some personal trauma of losing my best 4-legged friend about a year ago. The track, a homage to Jose Prieto’s dog (Bruno) is a must hear with with Vinnie Caruana (Movielife/I Am The Avalanche) taking on singing duties on behalf of Bruno. I smiled and teared up while listening to this previously unreleased song that was more or less the last conversation the two had while remembering the great times I had with my beloved Sweet Lou and Zeus. This track will punch you in the heart if you love(d) your pet unconditionally.

“I’m Sure My Little Brother Never Listened to Lagwagon” was the other unreleased track and was a total banger. Loved the bass licks that reminded me of Matt Fremon as well as the recollection of punk life pitfalls.

“American Futbol” and “My Bones” were a little rawer than what showed up on Get It Together but equally as great and served as a reminder how much I adored their Fat debut.

2021 has been yet another shit year, right? I personally thank bands like MakeWar for persevering on with their true passion and providing those distractions we all need to make these days a little better.

MakeWar play The Fest today and then have a few Northeast shows lined up on their way back home in early November. In 2022, they landed some Europe shows with some band called the Descendents.

I have said it before and will say it again, these guys are going places. Do not sit on them.

Also, can we talk about how sick the color pressing of Stay is? I ordered mine the day it dropped and adore the variant that was shipped to me:

Want your own? Head to Fat Wreck Chords and snag one today!

Album Review: MakeWar – Get It Together

I’ll never forget the first time I heard of Brooklyn residents MakeWar.  Toby from Red Scare told me to check them out about 3 years back, so naturally I did.  I was completed obsessed with what I heard instantly and moments later realized they were on the bill for the last Dag House show happening in just a couple hours.  I dropped everything I was doing that night and made it to the dark basement in Cleveland to see them play.

After their set, they announced they needed to hightail it out of there to drive to, if I am not mistaken, Nebraska.  I panicked and searched the house for one of the band members because I refused to leave without getting some form of merch from them.

I was able to find Jose Preito just before he finished his goodbyes and stupidly asked him if the merch was already packed up.  He stopped what he was doing and led me out to their tour van and with Edwin Santacruz’s help, dug out their 2015 self-titled amped up release and sold it to me.  He then gave me a big hug, thanked me, and jumped into the van they were about to call home for a few days.

It’s something I will not forget.  I knew then they would not be one of those bands that faded away and that bigger things were in store for them in due time.  It was no surprise to me when they announced they signed to Fat Wreck Chords.  It just made sense.

Get It Together is the band’s 3rd or 4th release pending how you take their self-titled releases into consideration.  In past times, the tracks were tough heart-tugging tracks best served with rounds of liquid courage.  This time around, the band really seemingly took a deep breath, said fuck it, and moved forward less reserved.

Kicking off the album was “Hopeless Dreamers”, a track that brought friendships close thanks to mindsetting lines like “the night is drunk and we are all young”.  This track carried me back to the days of heading to certain lounges that no longer have occupancy while surrounded by pals.

Kicking it up a notch was “No Excuses”, a track that really showed a different side to MakeWar I was not prepared for, but loved.  It was sped up and direct.   There was also the ending breakdown on the track.  Damn fine if you ask me.

“Squeeze” dipped back to the days of flannel shirts and Doc Martins in the best way possible.  Once again the band hit a different territory and nailed it.  Full of anxiety and anxiousness, the track was one of my favs on the album.

Then there was “No Más”.  As a middle-aged white boy, I have no clue what Edwin was screaming but it was awesome.  The same applied with “Inmunda Realized”, but in all honesty, that song kicked major ass,

The highly addictive “Sails” was one of the first singles I heard off the album and it was beautifully down.  This was one of those tracks where I couldn’t help but to think to myself how much these boys have matured as musicians.

“Oh, Brother” was another single I heard previous to the release and carried that MakeWar style I grew accustomed to years back.  The song hit me hard as someone who still struggles with growing up.  There was so much good intentions on this track that also reminded me that getting old isn’t the end of the world and even us old punks can still have fun.

Overall Get It Together was an impressive release. In fact, the second listen is when I really found myself getting lost in the music and lyrics.  I am not saying they redefined punk rock, but they certainly made their own footprint.

MakeWar comes from all over the place literally and this album really showcased that.  Jose was originally from Venezuela, Edwin came from Colombia, and Greg came from that state where that naked dude ate the face off of someone once aka Florida but left the band after album was recorded so Matty from The Moms took over.

All jokes aside, these guys are just getting to their prime as a band and it’s the perfect time to get into them.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you about MakeWar.

Album Review: MakeWar – Developing a Theory of Integrity

MakeWar "Developing A Theory Of Integrity"I admit, I do not get to crank out reviews like I used to.  If I had it my way, I would quit my paying gig and do this full time, but the truth of the matter is that I do this for fun and not profit and I have bills to pay.  20-year-old me would kick my ass right now for even mentioning that.  I sound like grandpa punk again…

I’ve been trying to find some time to write about one of my favorite albums of 2016 for the past month now.  I am seriously stoked to have found some time tonight to do so.  With that said, here we go.

Developing a Theory of Integrity by Brooklyn’s MakeWar immediately jumped to the top of my favorite albums the moment I heard the first song.  I cannot get enough of this album and have been listening to it almost daily since it dropped on Red Scare Industries in September.

Side note: Not even two days after I heard the album, I learned that they were playing the final Dag House show in Cleveland (RIP DAG).  As luck would have it, I had a free night and I booked it over to that historical home to see MakeWar do their thing in the basement and got to act like a fanboy afterwards who was short $1 when trying to buy their debut self-titled LP out of their van while they were literally trying to back out of the driveway to make a long ass drive to Omaha.  Thanks Jose, I will pay you back that $1 next time you roll through town.

Originally an acoustic act called Sad and French, MakeWar took their songs to a new dynamic and turned themselves into a full fletched punk rock band that carries so many likable qualities from catchy hooks to relatable lyrical content.  Don’t get me wrong, Sad and French were absolutely amazing, but plugging in the guitars and turning up those amps have MakeWar way more exciting to listen to.

As previously mentioned, opening track “Matador Pool Party” blew me away.  There was so much going on with this track from the group singing to the Rancid/Face To Face reminiscing bass playing, brutal drumming, and lyrical content that just brought it all together perfectly.

“Ode” was just that, an ode to living life with booze in hand in NYC.  I loved the line “fuck not drinking for a week” as I’ve said that in my heyday when having a rough week of celebrating but refused to give it up.  I also loved the random thought process throughout the song that really could pertain to any city.  This is about as real as a song gets with spirits raised high.

“DTFH” was another standout track that begged to be sung along to.  Ironically this track reminded me in a sense of more upbeat Iron Chic who used to be on DTFH records.  “Don’t Panic” resembled Taking Back Sunday’s earlier years in a good way.

“On Feelings” might have been the most emotional track on the album but not in a cowering sense.  This track just make me happy for some reason and brought back some memories of great hangouts with great pals.  “Sallie” was another amazing song on this album.  I feel like I keep saying that, but it is true.  There were a lot of songs of this album that caught my attention including this one that referenced the paying back of those stupid ass student loans.

“Distractions” was more technical like Strung Out.  I really loved the change up of musical style on this track which clearly was the heaviest.  “Dust” ended the album in a completely different style full of dismay and sorrow, but damn it was beautiful.

I can not say enough good things about MakeWar.  If you are reading this, you need to at least check out the video for “Ode” below so you can see what got me so excited.  If you dig like I do, snag the album.  You will not be disappointed.

Visit MakeWar on Facebook and check them out live if you can.