University Drive – First Stage Separation EP

Listening to First Stage Separation, University Drive delivers one of the most compelling statements I’ve heard so far this year. From the first jagged chord of “Forget Me, Not,” it’s clear this is a band no longer tinkering on the edges, they’ve stepped fully into a raw, commanding presence.

Recorded live-to-tape at Electrical Audio in Chicago with Greg Norman engineering, the production strikes a powerful balance between grit and clarity. The drums punch with urgency, the guitars swell and tremble, and the vocals crack just enough to feel deeply human. I was particularly moved by “Hollow Sweetness”, which builds tension in ways that simmer and then explode not via volume alone, but through restraint and mood.

The band manages to contrast raw edges with melodic hooks and atmospheric moments alongside furious drive. “All The Way Down” slows things to a haunting beauty, and then “Final Flash” closes with cathartic release—no filler, just thoughtful sequencing and heart.

First Stage Separation is University Drive at full power, unafraid to let the rough spots show, trusting in the spaces between chaos and melody. It’s an EP that doesn’t just hint at potential.