The latest addition to the joint Tooth & Nail/Solid State roster are Virginia-natives Far-Less. It is hard to describe their sound, but aggressive urgency surrounds this band on their short but sweet national debut EP Turn to the Bright.

Though their sound is hard to describe, it feels like already-tread territory. It is somewhat of an emo/hardcore blend. Ambient and paced in places, but mostly set in high gear.

Perhaps not so unique, but Far-Less incorporates and fuses their music into their urgent lyrics. "Scorched Earth Policy" is a desperate plea for the destruction of all that is sinful in one's life. "I've witnessed the trend is losing innocence/ You should fall to your knees/ I feel the absence of a Holy Presence/ Pray for love, pray for mercy."

With six tracks in all, two of those being instrumental, and clocking in at just over twenty minutes, Turn to the Bright is fairly short even in an EP sense. But what you get is good, to say the least. Perhaps not everyone's cup of tea, but Far-Less is definitely fresh enough to gain a considerable following.

- Review date: 12/5/04, written by Josh Taylor