Chief Rival projects post west sound

Austin's Chief Rival could easily be identified with more prominent names such as Explosions in the Sky and Black Angels, but what makes this band stand out from the rest is their age.

With the youngest member being 14 years old, these musicians haven't graduated from high school yet.

Listening to the self-titled EP, the songs are not written in a conventional song format, such as verse, chorus, verse, and then chorus. Instead, they are presented like orchestra movements where every song is structured to be a part of one main themed composition.

This album could easily be an accompanying soundtrack to a young Clint Eastwood western movie as Chief Rival incorporates characteristic melodies usually found in these types of films. With this album, the songs seem to tell a story.

For example, in the intro of "Three Coffins," the use of crickets chirping along with the building wavering tremolo sets the scene for a midnight journey. This effect is repeated again with the addition of gunshots and church bells to illustrate a confrontation at a church.

The last song, "Like We Were Buffalo" is the subdued finale of the story as the expedition comes to a tranquil end.

As these musicians are still in their always-evolving adolescent years, the future albums will only improve as they mature and gain life experience with age.