The Best Side Project of 2009
by Becky M.
I don't go online at home much anymore, and I always forget to check out new music when I can actually turn on my speakers. But last spring everyone was talking about this new side project called Pegasus, so I went online at home specifically to download their 2 song promo. I liked what I heard, but held off on ordering the first press of the 7", since I heard that it wasn't coming with a download card, and that the 2nd version would. I still honestly prefer CD's, but a download card is the next best thing. Also my record player is still wrapped in plastic from when I moved in July. So I decided to stick it out and wait for the second press while listening to the 2 downloaded songs in the meantime.
I went on the Six Feet Under website one day in December and found out that the 2nd press had indeed been released, so I ordered along with a $4 copy of Mother of Mercy - III. Waiting for the 2nd press was 100% worth it. Although my mail rarely appears without a struggle (DFTS DFTS) and often gets delivered to my landlord, this thing showed up with no hassle about a week and a half after ordering. The download card is pretty nifty. I've only bought 4 releases so far that have come with cards, and this one was the first one that provided a download of the full layout and lyrics as well as the mp3's.
When the 2 song promo was first posted online, Pegasus was billed as "members of Cold World, Rival Mob, Rzl Dzl and War Hungry," which I promptly inserted into their lastfm biography. (The only lastfm pages I've ever edited were for Pegasus, Confusion and Altercation, although I should keep trying to switch the Boxcutter picture back to the real BXC as opposed to that Irish dubstep dude as frequently as possible). But since they have DFJ on drums, you could effectively describe them as members of a zillion different bands. Pegasus is an interesting project because they have Nick Woj on vox, who is better known as the drummer of Cold World. I have been intrigued ever since I found out he wrote a lot of the Cold World lyrics, as I'm sort of obsessed with bands whose singers didn't write all their lyrics (see also Minus era Merauder.) When the promo first came out I didn't know who was singing, just which bands were represented in their lineup. But I was impressed by his vocals, which are in the vein of Eddie Sutton but not a direct replication.
The 7" has three songs, so you're getting the two that were available online last summer, as well as the B side, Nine Bites of the Cherry. If you haven't heard the Side A songs yet (Fool For You and In My Fright), they are heavily Leeway influenced, but again, not a Leeway copy. They seem to fall somewhere between Born to Expire and Desperate Measures era, although probably more heavily on the side of BTE because of the fast parts and solos. The melodies are catchy and the songwriting is cohesive yet varied. There's a fab booty shaking/singalong part at 1:40 in Fool For You ("IIIIII DON'T MIND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME...") And while I think I like Fool For You more, In My Fright is structurally a better song. The latter contains a sick mosh part reminiscent of True Blue at 2:05, straight into a perfect subsequent skank part. This is not hardcore for the 2-minute-and-under crowd (two minute warning as I come off stage...) but you probably already figured that out from the Leeway comparisons. There are a plethora of heavier NYHC-influenced bands out these days, with everyone proclaiming themselves the next Merauder etc. But Pegasus demonstrates their style well, probably because these guys are experienced musicians who know what the fuck they are doing and finally got a chance to record a project like this.
The third track is a little different from the first two, but not in a bad way. While Fool For You and In My Fright display a distinct Leeway influence, the vox on Nine Bites remind me more of Ugly era Life of Agony, to the point where I wanted to listen to Ugly immediately after Pegasus when I was running last week. I was momentarily vexed when I couldn't find it on my nano (until it appeared under Compilations, the same purgatory which once housed No Reason To Smile until I freed it.) Overall it's slower than the first two songs and finishes off with an Entombed-esque riff, which is fitting for a band that contains a member of War Hungry.
Since the songs they posted last summer were only a rough mix, the 7" version sounds much louder, fuller and better produced. As far as I know, Pegasus hasn't played any shows since the members are busy with their other projects, but I'm curious what Nick's vocals would sound like live. I would totally rock my Nike Storm Pegasus (Pegasi?) at such an event, even though they are 6 years old and falling apart. Anyway, I'm not holding my breath for a live show, but in the meantime this release is definitely worth picking up for any discerning fans of Leeway, LOA, side projects, Pennsylvania, and the over 2 minute club. And you know that's another case cloooooosed, shut.
