Without Borders - In The Woods

Without Borders

In The Woods
self-released; 2013

3.5 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Without Borders is a band from Latvia. I know absolutely nothing about the music scene in Latvia but if it at all resembles the recent EP from Without Borders then they’ve got good things going on over there. The three members Einārs Kotāns, Edgars Kārkliņš and Ģirts Dreimanis are a tight rock band who seem to have an innate chemistry with each other. They have the ability to play in the pocket and lock onto a groove. The music isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel by any stretch of the imagination but the band has a knack for writing anthemic songs that contain a surplus of energy that is easy to get behind.

They open their EP In The Woods with “Summer Nights,” which begins with dreamy guitars and melancholy vocals that paint moods of nostalgia. The lead singer adds more nostalgia into the mix as he talks about summer nights as if they are relics of the past. I thought the vocal harmonies were especially effective, as the song progressively gets more intense. 

The band lightens up the mood with a “Castle of Words,” which is an all around good song. It has plenty to latch on to as the guitar riff is inventive and the vocal melodies are mighty catchy. The song is also quite dynamic which only adds to its appeal.

“Can I forget you?” revolves around classic rock clichés but is also endearing while “Cherry Tree” is a solid song that they throw in the mix. They close with “Take me, hold me, break me but i'm not gonna change,” which had more of an ‘80s feel than the previous material on the album.

In The Woods is an enjoyable EP that is easy on the ears and doesn’t take much effort to enjoy. I think the band should work on their defining sound but they seem to be headed in the right direction. Recommended.

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