Review: Keep Flying Revisits the Past with Revival EP

Long Island, NY punk band Keep Flying released their new EP Revival on 08/12/2022. The EP consists of reimagined versions of a selection of songs from their two EPs, Follow Your Nightmares (2016) and Walkabout (2017), and lone album Survival (2020). The band also recorded one new song for the EP.

They join the list of several recent bands such as Tool, Halestorm, Shinedown and others who have revisited their previous songs or albums. Re-recording a song allows for a different interpretation which can sometimes spotlight greater musical diversity.

Keep Flying’s musical style is typical of other Long Island punk bands, displaying loud vocals and aggressive guitars. It borders almost on being ska due to its integration of saxophones and horns. The loud nature of both the vocals and music cause them to compete with other for dominance.

While each of the original recordings of the EP’s songs displayed this aggressive punk sound, the reimagined versions dial down this aggression. The focus is now more on the vocals and lyrics. Instead of fostering anger and attitude, the new versions are tamer making you want to just put on headphones and relax in the recliner.

“Firesale” is the opening song. It begins with acoustic guitar and soothing sax and sets the mood for the remainder of the EP. “Candy Cane Forest” has a Folk /Americana flavor and picks up the tempo while introducing banjo and cello. Electric guitars appear for the first time in “Fashion Statement”. The band changes style again with the song which features Greg Rivers & Murf who contribute rap vocals. “Clarity” is the sole new song on the EP. It’s another mellower song with the band reverting back to acoustic guitar complimented again by sax and brass. This feel continues with the next song “They Never Die Down”. The closing track, “Live Together, Die Alone”, is the one song that most resembles its original version. While a little slower, it still possesses a distinctive ska sound similar to the previous recording.

Speaking about the EP the band shares: “Revival is the final companion piece to our 2020 album Survival in which we pushed ourselves to think outside the box and transform some of the songs we have fallen in love with into cross genre versions more listeners may enjoy. Being able to create new forms of art based off current tunes has allowed us to expand our palette and take multiple leaps into new frontiers as a way to revive and expel our music even more than before.”

Revival is a big departure from Keep Flying’s normal sound. It shows that the band is capable of more than just loud punk. However, being a big fan of punk, especially when it leans toward ska, I will say that I prefer the original versions of the songs. Still, the EP offers a good alternative on days when you are in the mood for something more relaxing.

For More Info on Keep Flying

Website: https://keepflying.band/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keepflyingband
Twitter: https://twitter.com/keepflyingband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keepflyingband/
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3mOAcb6

Revival Tracklist:

1. Firesale
2. Candy Cane Forest 2
3. Fashion Statement Remix (ft. Greg Rivers & Murf)
4. Clarity
5. They Never Lie Down
6. L.T.D.A.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

July 14 – Millersville, PA @ Phantom Power (w/Bouncing Souls)
Aug 11 – Worcester, MA @ PNI Club
Aug 12 – Brattleboro, VT @ TBD
Aug 13 – Portland, ME @ Portland House of Music
Aug 14 – Manchester, NH @ Jewel
Aug 16 – Butler, NJ @ KF Home Base House Show
Aug 18 – Utica, NY @ Nail Creek Pub & Brewery
Aug 19 – Binghamton, NY @ The Bundy Museum
Aug 20 – Richmond, VA @ Camel
Aug 21 – Roanoke, VA @ Fork In The Market
Aug 30 – Beaver Falls, PA @ Local 724
Aug 31 – Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s Apartment
Sept 1 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk
Sept 2 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hoosier Dome
Sept 3 – Cincinnati, OH @ Legends Bar & Venue
Sept 4 – Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge
Sept 5 – Ames, IA @ Record Mill
Sept 6 – Laramie, WY @ The Great Untamed
Sept 8 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades ^
Sept 9 – Bend, OR @ Silvermoon Brewery ^
Sept 10 – Portland, OR @ Roseland ^
Sept 11 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO ^
Sept 13 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory ^
Sept 14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot ^
Sept 15 – Denver, CO @ Summit ^
Sept 16 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown ^
Sept 17 – St. Louis, MO @ Pageant ^
Sept 18 – Columbus, OH @ Summit
Dec 31 – Amityville, NY @ Amityville Music Hall