Hard Rock band, New Years Day is a force to be reckoned with especially when it comes to its latest EP release, Diary of a Creep. This EP which features four covers from a plethora of different songs to one massive in-your-face brand new track, will have fans blown away.
Founded in 2006 in Anaheim, California, New Years Day built its following through social media which allowed it to get its start and put out its self-titled EP in 2006. From there the band kept building up its fan base and released its first full length album, My Dear in 2007.
The band would take a few year’s hiatus from making music while still touring and bringing its music to the masses via live shows before releasing another EP, The Mechanical Heart in 2011. This EP received major critical acclaim from fans and the press alike. The band would drop another album in 2013, Victim to Villain, then a year later in 2014 released the EP, Epidemic. In 2015, the band would see its greatest success with, Malevolence. It peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Although the lineup of the band over the years had some changes, the current band consists of Ash Costello on vocals, Nikki Misery on guitar, Max Georgier on guitar, Zac Morris on drums and Frankie Sil on bass.
New Years Day is a band that has accomplished so much in the 12 years its been a band with touring and creating music. It made a name for itself using social media and the fan base keeps growing with every show. With its latest EP, Diary of a Creep released on January 28, 2018 on Century Media Records they showed something different. The album is made up of five cover tunes ranging from heavy metal bands to pop rock and one brand new single that is a force to be reckoned with.
Diary of a Creep, begins with the band’s latest new song “Disgust Me.” To say this is an amazing intro to the EP is an understatement. The tune is an in-your-face killer metal song that provides the listener with a musical experience he or she will not forget. With rolling drums, heavy bass, killer guitars including a face melting guitar solo in the middle of the song and powerhouse vocals this track has everything any metal fan would want to hear.
The second track on the album is a cover of New Order’s, “Bizarre Love Triangle”. With a heavy intro that leads into a hard rock version of this familiar 1980’s popular song, New Years Day adds its own flair to the tune with numerous guitar riffs and a solid guitar solo. It stays true to the original version in many ways with synthesizer sounding drum rolls and Costello’s vocals having a pop vibe to it. Fans will enjoy the twist the band made to this song.
The heaviest song on the EP is “Fucking Hostile” originally done by Pantera. In true fashion of the song and New Years Day paying tribute to the tune, it is heavy from beginning to end. This metal riff comes complete with Costello giving the fans a true variety of her vocal chops from in your face singing to pure gut wrenching screams. There are rolling drums, killer bass and heavy metal guitar shredding that adds up to an amazing rendition of the traditional piece. Fans will truly be raising their fists in the air in excitement to this version of a classic tune.
Showing the versatility of the band and its ability to take on any song and make it its own, they cover Linkin Park’s famous single “Crawling” with a its own flair. New Years Day decided to take electronica mixed with some rock and run with it. It’s a different vibe than the original version yet that might be the key ingredient to it being a successful song. The band should receive kudos for straying a bit off the path and covering a song that many consider a classic tune with a sense of what Linkin Park might have done if they pushed the electronica envelope a little more with the jam. From Costello’s vocals to the rest of the bands performance the tune allows for musical creativity to shine through.
With a hint of Industrial rock mixed with Hard Rock, New Years Day takes on Garbage’s song “Only Happy When It Rains”. The song is one that will be a fan favorite on the EP. With killer guitar playing, steady drums and bass along with a vocal performance from Costello that is powerful the song speaks for itself. Guest vocalist on the song, Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale brings a powerhouse vocal performance that adds to the strength and spirit of the tune. Costello and Hale both intertwined vocals will leave chills down any listeners spin.
Finishing off the EP is a cover of No Doubt’s, “Don’t Speak”. Costello’s performance during this piece is vulnerable and melodic. With just a piano, strumming guitar and vocal beginning, fans will truly be able to feel every note and lyric in their soul. As the song progresses to a hard rock one during the chorus strings can be heard behind the music adding to a fuller sound. With double time drums playing, steady bass and a long heavy face melting guitar solo during the middle half of the song provides a powerful performance. Costello’s vocals at times embrace the sound of Gwen Stefani herself providing listeners the opportunity to see her versatility as a singer. “Don’t Speak” is the song on the album that stays true to the original version although New Years Day made it its own.
New Years Day has had a full career thus far and it continues to surprise its audiences with music that is contemporary, unique and refreshing to hear. Diary of a Creep is an EP that embraces some of the bands favorite artists and songs. Each tune is carefully crafted and brought to new life with the creativity of New Years Day. On an EP that has such diverse tracks ranging from Pop to Metal, the band has outdone itself showing it can take any song and put its own personal spin on it. The EP is one that any music fan should have in his or her library.
