Brooklyn, NY’s Geometers is bassist/guitarist/vocalist Sam Wadsworth, drummer David Beale, and guitarist/vocalist Kyle Pollard. Formed in 2015 and living in a place like New York City- and particularly the rapidly populating area of Bushwick, it’s easy to get caught up in fitting in and keeping up with the current trends. Instead, this trio plays the music they must, looking  to defy and redefine the post-hardcore genre much in the same way their predecessors have— influences like Fugazi, Botch, Engine Down, Q and Not U, Thrice and Shiner. Like most of these bands, Geometers may be better described as layered, or more simply loud, but able to balance their power with finesse.
Pay to Live was recorded and mixed by J. Robbins of Jawbox (who has also produced bands such as  The Dismemberment Plan, Against Me!, Murder By Death, Modern Life Is War, Braid, and Shiner, among many others) at the Magpie Cage in Baltimore, Maryland. Mastered by Dan Coutant at Sunroom Audio in NY. Album artwork created by John Cox and layout by Kyle Pollard.
Pay to Live  is made up of well-orchestrated harmonies, gently plucked melodies and rolling rhythms that give way to more abrasive vocals, drastic chords and powerful percussion. The sound is something in the realm of Dischord Records’ repertoire, which makes sense given the fact that the band has a Dischord release under their collective belts after band member Sam Wadsworth recently recorded bass tracks for Red Hare (members of Swiz) earlier this year. The theme of the album, as the title aptly suggests, is about struggling to get by in the “adult” world. “Patsy” in particular deals with loneliness in the modern world, and having little self-worth while masking emotion in everyday life to get by. Eric Michael Pearson gives these emotions a vision through a woman (Duygu Eser), who is seen wandering through life in an unhappy haze, searching (literally) for some source of light.
Ghettoblaster recently caught up with drummer David Beale to find out other records with finesse he was loving in 2016.

1. Way, Shape, or Form – Elsewhere
2. Andy Shauf – The Party
3. Tycho – Epoch
4. David Bazan – Blanco
5. Sumac – What One Becomes
6. Angel Olsen – MY WOMAN
7. Cinemechanica – S/T
8. Tortoise – The Catastrophist
9. William Tyler – Modern Country
10. Flock of Dimes – If You See Me, Say Yes

(Listen to Geometers here: https://geometers.bandcamp.com/.)