The Almsmen

Los Angeles, CA based self-proclaimed "GarageRock" which in my opinion has heavy influences of punk and metal. I really enjoy the new EP The Unheard. It's hard and heavy, it gets dark when it needs to, and the vocals are impressive. You can hear the power.

We start off with Macbeth, a poetic high energy tune with Kevin Vargas shredding it on guitar to the intense drum beat of Zac Imperial. Fast and furious, with attitude that matches the pacing. I really like this track and it is a good pick for the first song we hear, it generates the energy and theme for the rest of the EP.


The next track on The Unheard is The Forest. This song is a wonderful representation of the rhyming abilities of The Almsmen.

"The revolution is imminent the whole world is listening." followed by a raging guitar solo is a highlight of The Forest. I find it to be a great in between song for the first and third picks for The Unheard.


The final track on The Unheard is titled Die Hungry and it has a bluesy swing to it I couldn't ignore. The lead guitar has it's moments, while Sean Reyes on bass settting the mood for Connor Dyer to lay it out real for us.

The Almsmen have a great stage presence. You can tell that they are all in tune with one another which only helps create a better performance.

Personally my favorite track from The Unheard is Macbeth, but every song in the EP is amazing. - Initiate Error

Who said punk is dead? The Almsmen is a living proof that even in the 21st century there is a need for this artistic expression. We had a long conversation with Kevin from the band and we covered their music, music and art situation these days, social and musician challenges and we even had some fun. So, brace yourself for thoughts and ideas and say hello to them after reading it!

Music Authentic: Let’s begin with the “site-traditional” question: How did you sleep last night?

Kevin (The Almsmen): Last night was actually a pretty good sleep night!

Music Authentic: Now let’s dive in, shall we? Your musical genre has become marginalized, and the very few who still make it tend to be “faking it”. How can rock be authentic and valid these days?

Kevin (The Almsmen): I think that can be done in a lot of different ways, anything from someone in their bedroom who wants to make comedic punk songs to someone paying hundreds of dollars to make really well produced rock songs about real tragedies in the world or in their life in a studio can both be equally authentic. As long as whoever is making the music is genuine with what they’re doing I think that’s all it takes to be authentic to me is genuine passion. And like a lot of things the validity of rock music comes from you. If you think what you’re doing is valid is authentic and that it matters then that is the only important factor.

Music Authentic: Wherever we look, there are armadas of factory-made artists and their “projects” supported by industry and with such a large sum that it seems to be hard or even impossible to win this game. Do you think it’s rigged?

Kevin (The Almsmen): No, I don’t think it’s rigged but it can feel that way sometimes! Especially in LA with all the pay to play stuff. If you can get a following online or if you can create a stir and get attention by being good enough I think everyone has a chance. That’s the beauty of living right now.

Music Authentic: Do you ever wish your songs be on TOP 40 charts? Are radios, Billboards are still important?

Kevin (The Almsmen): Yeah sometimes, but not because charts, Billboard, or radio is that important but because it would mean someone was listening to our music. Someone would be hearing our passion project. It would be just as cool to have a 100,000 views on YouTube or 10,000 downloads on band camp. As long as someone is listening to us in any capacity. I think the only real use for radio or the billboard charts is for the old media and the old way of doing things to say you’re legit.

Music Authentic: Punk is usually about social rebellion. You are an LA band. Can you, should you be sensitive to world injustices or just local things?

Kevin (The Almsmen): I think, outside of us being a band or being from LA or any of that just flat out as people we should choose to be as sensitive as we can what other people elsewhere are experiencing is well as what people right next door to us are going through.

Music Authentic: Speaking of: where do you think you will be in a few years from now on?

Kevin (The Almsmen): Man, that’s tough! I think it’ll be good I don’t plan on stopping with music anytime soon so having that passion in my life at any time will be good for me.

Music Authentic: These are more than strange and unusual times in many aspects. Where do you gain your strength these days?

Kevin (The Almsmen): Something that’s been giving me strength lately has been getting up really early, before sunrise, and going down to the skate park before anyone else shows up and just sort of being outside and getting some exercise first thing in the morning. - Music Authentic