The brothers Jim and Jack Ivins lead the band The Ivins, which has always tried to make sounds that would fill a stadium while still being independent.
The band’s most recent release, the “Echoes” EP, comes two years after their historic Department of State-funded tour of Sudan and Egypt, which put them in a war zone just weeks before the fighting started.
The EP starts with the lead single “Culture Kill,” a song that sets the band’s sound right away. During the same recording session as their previous single “Illusion,” this song has Jim Ivins‘ intense singing and the band’s signature wall of guitars.
What is interesting about this song is how it strikes a balance between being easy to understand and having real rock energy. This is a mix that is becoming less common in today’s divided rock scene.
Its title is an unintentional statement on the loss of culture that they almost saw for themselves. The track pulses with built-up energy, which makes me think that some songs need historical background to fully affect me emotionally.
The next song is “One Of Us,” which was written during the COVID lockdown of 2020 but is only now finished. The song is very emotional, which may be a reflection of how the band is feeling about their time abroad.
The sound keeps the band’s signature polish while letting in just the right amount of roughness to show real feeling. The exact drums of Jack Ivins holds down the rhythm section and gives the high guitar work a strong base.
Another song from the COVID era, “Release Me,” shows how much the band has changed since their last full-length record, “Conditions” (2021). The setup has a depth that makes me think the band has been taking in influences while they were away.
The song builds up to a calming chorus that is both personal and global, which is typical of The Ivins’ style of writing songs.
The EP ends with a version of “Rabbit Hole” by The Infamous HER, another Nashville rock band. The background of this choice makes it feel even more meaningful: The Infamous Her covered The Ivins’ 2020 song “Bloom” in return.
Nashville is known for country music, but this musical exchange between two rock bands shows how collaborative the city’s rock scene can be.
The story behind the making of “Echoes” is what makes it so interesting. The Ivins were in a very important place in history when they worked with the US State Department on their ground-breaking tour of Sudan and Egypt.
It is clear that being the first American band to play in Sudan, just weeks before the country fell into a terrible civil war, had a huge effect on the band. They said that this event made them “take stock of their lives and careers,” which led to a time of exploring with side projects.
The Ivins’ approach to sound shows how they have increased their experiential language without giving up on basic maximalist ideas. Jack’s rhythmic base comes from his work with the famous pop-punk band Burn The Ballroom.
It shows polyrhythmic complexity that takes standard rock structures to a higher level. These percussion choices make me think of emotional compartmentalisation, which is the controlled holding back that you need to deal with stressful events.
Jim’s change in voice is just as interesting. His 90s-inspired side project The Fan has clearly shaped his musical sense, adding subtle dynamics to his simple alt-rock delivery. His feelings do not have to be loud all the time anymore; he now knows that quiet statements can be stronger than long screams.
When Nashville rock duo The Dead Deads asked The Ivins to open their first show on tour, it sparked the band’s return. Instead of just playing, the band used the time to clear out their stash of unused music and put together an EP that made sense.
This choice shows how honest they are as artists; instead of trying to make new music, they chose songs that showed their journey and their current artistic vision.
The Ivins have made a name for themselves in Nashville’s rock scene by working hard and making good music. Two full-length albums and seven songs released before this one made them known as a band that could sell records and make good art.
“Echoes” comes out at a cool time for rock music. Although rock music has split into many subgenres and niches, The Ivins are still dedicated to a style of music that is both new and old, which they joke about calling “Wannabe Stadium Rock.“
Choices made in production show that a worker has grown up without giving up their core character. The guitars have the right amount of weight while still leaving room for subtlety. This suggests that the brothers have learnt to use dynamics as a tool instead of just counting on sound density.
The mix shows that a lot of thought went into the emotional geography of the music. Each instrument has its own place in the space that serves the dramatic architecture of the songs.
The title of the EP makes sense; these songs are a reflection of the band’s life, from being alone during a pandemic to working as an international peacekeeper in a war zone.
They also use the band’s artistic inspirations to make something new and different. Though “Echoes” is only 12 minutes long, it makes a strong impression and makes people want to know what The Ivins will do next.
The Ivins are a great addition to modern rock for people who like bands like Silversun Pickups, Foo Fighters, and Nothing But Thieves. “Echoes” is both a satisfying piece of work on its own and a hopeful sign of where the author wants to go in the future.
The band’s willingness to try new things artistically while staying true to their sound shows that they have a lot more to give.
The Ivins say that their future is still “uncertain,” but “Echoes” shows that you should still keep an eye on them. A lot of the time, style is more important than content in music, but The Ivins keep giving us both.
