The Making of "Lvl. 1" (Part 3 of 3)

Part Three: The Finished Product

Final Tracklist for Last Chance to Reason's "Lvl. 1"
1. Owned By A Sting Ray Barb
2. She's My Bloody Pie
3. Escape From Brinstar
4. Me And Tom Brokaw Are Like This
5. Maddens For N00bz
6. It's Professional When That Happens
7. Kraid Aint Got Shit On Me
8. Get Awesome
9. Those Were Real Witch Bones
10. Joe Dirt
11. Destroy Mother Brain
12. Cock Eating Bullet

After two weeks of nonstop recording, tinkering, adjusting, and being overall perfectionists to assure the best possible outcome, Last Chance to Reason packed up and headed home, anxious to hear Jamie King’s final mix. When they did, the results shocked even them.

“Our album came out better than any of us expected it to,” said guitarist AJ Harvey. “I don’t get sick of our new songs, I love it. Each of the instruments and vocals sound amazing.

“The final product is better than we ever thought we could sound thanks to long hours and Jamie’s production expertise,” Sammons added. “Overall, I think the album has a really good balance and flow. We did everything we wanted to do. We took the time and did those little things and polished it, and it all fits together. This is definitely cohesive as an album.”

The group is beyond satisfied with the result. “We want to go back [to The Basement Recording] for LP number two,” Sammons said, leaving no doubt in the band’s appreciation for King’s production talents.

“I am sure that we are going to work with Jamie King on future projects,” vocalist Rob Delaney added with enthusiasm. “He basically said that we are one of his new favorite bands. He assured us that we were one of the most unique sounding, distinctive, technical bands he has worked with,” Delaney said; impressive comments coming from the producer of Between The Buried and Me, among other respected metal acts. “He also said that Chris was in the top three of all the bass players he has ever worked with.”

“I love listening to this album,” Delaney said; another testament to the album’s merits. In the process of making the album, the band had to write, rehearse, practice, record demos, and then hear them for hours on end in the final recording stages; an exhaustive process that often turns bands off to their own material. “‘ Lvl. 1’ Is by far the best album I have ever been involved with. I don’t think there is a weak moment on this album, regarding anything,” said Delaney, who has filled the role of vocalist for numerous other acts, including Maine groups Vatican City and Amaranthus, as well a tour through Europe with Washington D.C.’s Age of Ruin.

The album ended as the group planned; nine songs, four of which are older titles reworked – some drastically, others moderately – and three interludes. “All the songs we reworked should be fun for OG LCTR fans,” Sammons said. But are there any favorites among the band members?

“My favorite tracks on the album would probably have to be ‘Those Were Real Witch Bones’ and the new version of ‘Tom Brokaw.’ They just have really good parts that sound epic and huge. I like that in a song,” said Chris Corey, bassist.

Sammons picks no favorites among what he considers by far to be his band’s crowning achievement. “It’s great just to hear the complete album.”

“All of the songs have a unique awesomeness to them,” said Delaney, who refers to “Lvl. 1” as his new favorite album. “Right now, I would have to say ‘Get Awesome’ and ‘Cock Eating Bullet’ have my votes for the best songs on the album.”

Looking back to the pre-recording interview, did Last Chance to Reason achieve their goals? Did they indeed perfect the execution and “groove the fuck out of it?” Yes. Mission accomplished. Just listen to the solo of “Get Awesome,” now available for listening on the band’s Myspace. Harvey’s symphony of sweep and shred is already brilliant in its own right, but when Sammons brings the double bass in halfway through, you’ll know exactly what they were talking about; it’s fun as hell, plain and simple. Or look past the more-epic-than-Beowulf chorus of “Witch Bones” and focus on the riff that directly follows it. The riff essentially stays the same for nearly a full minute, but it’s performed with enough style and flair that it grooves its way into your memory and simply refuses to get stale. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the definition of execution, attitude, and grooving the fuck out of something, all rolled into one and spat back out in auricular form.

As for the doubters and the disgruntled fans that yearn for nothing beyond the days of piling onto each other and crying, “I would die for you, I would kill for you,” Last Chance to Reason is unfazed. “People don’t change,” Sammons said. “Any time a band that people really like – or even kind of like – changes, [fans] get pissed off.”

Harvey may have said it best: “I just think we’ve accomplished a collection of badass, memorable songs.”

All photos and captions courtesy of Jayme Boucher.