by Patrick Pilch (@pratprilch)
Toronto punk outfit Life In Vacuum have a full dance card for 2024 so far. Later this month, the Canada-by-Ukraine trio set out for a great, big, North American tour; a multi-coast trek you don’t see too often nowadays. But before they hit the road, the band has shared their latest ripper “Soul Crusher” via the always reliable Born Losers Records.
“Soul Crusher” follows “Lately,” the first of hopefully a couple more B-sides from last year’s full length Lost. Full disclosure; I've begun to steer clear of shouty punk as my days as a 20-something wind down, but dang, does “Soul Crusher” capture that punk-with-pop-hook magic. Life in Vacuum are the tightest of loosey-goosies on this one, kicking things off with a dynamic, jagged jam before bringing it on home on the back half. “I’ll go the distance/I’ll crush your soul,” sings Sasha Chornyy as brother Ross keeps time on percussion. The first time this chorus comes around is when that aforementioned magic happens; the destination is reached and the song’s potential found. It’s a cathartic start before a busy year for Life in Vacuum. Check out “Soul Crusher” below and be sure to catch a gig:
02/26 - Toronto, ON @ Hounds Tooth *
02/27 - Rochester, NY @ The Bug Jar *
02/28 - Salem, MA @ Koto *
02/29 - Queens, NY @ TV Eye w/ Jobber & A Deer A Horse *
03/01 - Philadelphia, PA @ Ortliebs *
03/02 - Richmond, VA @ Cobra Cabana *
03/03 - Durham, NC @ Rubies On Five Points *
03/05 - Atlanta, GA @ South Bend Commons *
03/06 - Pensacola, FL @ Handlebar *
03/07 - Hattiesburg, MS @ Fat Cat *
03/08 - New Orleans, LA @ The Goat *
03/09 - Houston, TX @ Bohemeo’s *
03/10 - Dallas TX @ Three Links
03/11 - Sat 16 - Austin, TX @ SXSW
03/17 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
03/18 - El Paso, TX @ Mona Bar
03/19 - Phoenix, AZ @ THE BEAST
03/22 - San Francisco, CA @ Kilowatt
03/25 - Portland, OR @ Mano Oculta
03/26 - Seattle, WA @ Clock Out Lounge
03/27 - Tacoma, WA @ Real Art
03/28 - Bellingham, WA @ Shakedown
03/29 - Victoria, BC @ Lucky
04/04 - Winnipeg, MB @ Handsome Daughter
04/05 - Minneapolis, MN @ Cloudtheatre
04/07 - Milwaukee, WI @ X Ray Arcade