Atlan(d)ta Trio Landt Anticipates the Release of its First EP

October 2, 2018July 25, 2019 TunerMagAdmin 2018, album release, Alternative Rock, atlanta, Ga, indie rock, news, rock

Landt’s self-titled EP, out on Oct. 4, is a short but sweet debut of four songs that kicks off a cohesive, surprisingly developed sound for the trio’s first release.

Landt is composed of twins Nick and Rory Landt, who are lead guitarist and bassist/vocalist, respectively. Add in drummer Nickolas Williams, and you’ve got a powerhouse rock three-piece. The general feel of the new project is a dark and quiet moodiness with a power that occasionally punches through, building the tension as the songs flow into each other, like watching a far-off storm roll in and knowing it’s going to hit you hard.
Rory listed the band’s influences as rock ‘n’ roll staples Soundgarden and Queens of the Stone Age, as well as Gojira. Landt’s sound marries elements of all three without deriving too much from any one.
The simple lyrics allow the instrumentals from these talented musicians to shine through, and give the music the space it needs to breathe without, as Rory called it, “overutilizing the melody.”
“All In” boasts a catchy riff that immediately grabs you by the ear, as well as an excellent solo with a fat pinch of reverb that echoes Pink Floyd’s iconic sound. “Dark Days” is the strongest track, with a driving kick drum and some good teeth on the lead guitar. “Hold on to Love” is an acoustic track, with the lyrics taking a more melodic role. This does make sense, as Rory said these lyrics were fully written before the music was, as opposed to the other songs on the record, the lyrics for which came second to the music. “Monolith” has a more classic-blues sound, underneath the band’s particular style of grit. There’s good mastering on all of the vocals on the EP, mostly provided by Rory (excepting “All In,” which is sung by Nick).
There’s a touch of echo here and there that lends to the overall balance of the record. It is easy to create a rock record that starts loud and stays loud, but one of the things that make this release so dynamic is Landt’s willingness to ease off the gas a little, only to come back and punch you with a heavy drum sound and strong guitar and vocals.
When I spoke to Rory about creating the EP, he told me it had been quite a few months in the making.
“We’ve probably been working on it a year or 10 months,” he said. “We had this band in mind for a long time, but the opportunity to start working on music and brand ourselves as Landt didn’t present itself until recently.”
It’s unsurprising that it was difficult to find the time, since all three are in other bands as well: all three are in BearKnuckle, an ATL staple, as well as other projects.
When asked about the decision to become a three-piece with his twin brother, and how he felt about putting his name on a project like this, Rory said it was fulfilling.
“I’ve always wanted to do my own thing, and with my brother especially, it’s great to have something that’s just ours,” he said. “It can be difficult sometimes because, as siblings, we know how to piss each other off, but there’s a level we get each other at that I can’t get out of other bands. We grew up playing together, we taught each other music, and that connection is really valuable.”
The project is indeed fully self-realized, with the trio recording, mixing, and mastering all the songs themselves. Rory said the members have been considering packing up the SUV and living on the road for a while, to “really do it.” He said they had put a lot of work into this release, and they’ve got a lot of faith in it.
“We’re really happy with it,” he explained. “This is really the climax of the work my brother and I have been doing, over the last 14 years of playing music, this is exactly where we want to go with it.”
The band will perform Oct. 4 at its EP release at Atlanta’s Star Bar. Doors open at 8 p.m.; the show is at 9 p.m., with support from Wicked Spring, 72nd and Central, and Katie Martin.