FAEDA (formerly Forgetting the Future) has tapped into that same feeling Hunter S. Thompson once felt when pushing his motorbike to the limit. Our pursuit of The Edge, where adrenaline and instinct engulf our overthinking minds, is a place few dare venture. Once there, it’s hard to return to the previous state. It’s often the final act. Too Wild to Last, Too Rare to Die plays somewhat on the legendary Thompson quote, and it’s a worthy, exemplary example of what guitar music can do. What rock and roll as a foundation can make for those pushing at it with all their heart. Their name may have changed, but the quality found in the Robbie McNicol-fronted group remains. Hard it may be to blur the aesthetic change with the instrumental steadiness, FAEDA manages it brilliantly. A few punk flourishes mixed in for good measure, and a sense that the band will push on to bigger, brighter horizons with a new name to boot.
All the makings of a punk, or at the very least a post-punk song, can be found on Too Wild to Last, Too Rare to Die. Punchy, percussion-led creativity which explores a long-lasting lust. Religious fervour is brought on by the talk of sinners and sincerity, McNicol drowning in a sea of strong instrumental work. It adds to the heartbreak, the wild style which FAEDA brings about. Anthemic is an overused word with little meaning behind it. Anything that has people dancing, chanting, or clapping is an anthem. But songs which have that quality to them are often guitar-led and are always an example of true passions leading the charge. Too Wild to Last, Too Rare to Die is a magnificent new moment for the band. It’s short enough to stick into their set, sharp enough to note the times are changing.
Their previous releases hold the same passions and hearty lyrical sway, but Too Wild to Last, Too Rare to Die is an opportunity to hear a band galvanised by change. Every artist needs to adapt to a new genre, a fresh sound, or some movement outside the studio. FAEDA does this perfectly. They have had time to prepare for it and it doesn’t sound like they’ve lost a step. As any great band manages to weather the storm, FAEDA has come through looking and sounding stronger. A forced change is a chance for any artist to reflect. It’s what you pull out of the fog that matters most. Too Wild to Last, Too Rare to Die is a bold statement of intent which reflects the band’s survival in the face of a major change. They back themselves fully, and you can hear why they do.
A confidence prevails throughout the sharp guitar work, the hammering percussion and lyrics of honest intent. That is what FAEDA has always been built on, but the boys do well to kindle further excitement, to push that little bit farther. They have to. Times like these make or break a band, and it’s reassuring to hear FAEDA come through so strongly when they need to. Nothing like a name change to provide a sense of danger to put to song. It’s a reflection not just of the times but of the state the band are now in. They’re pushing harder and faster than they had before. FAEDA doesn’t want a clean slate; the hang-ups and hopes of the past are very much with them, but following a song like Too Wild to Last, Too Rare to Die, it’s easy to hear them make good on those moments.
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