By: Joseph VanBuren
Rating: 6/11 

Chicago-based Castevet is a band that mixes the sincerity of indie with the abrasiveness of punk. And while many bands in the current NYC scene attempt a similar combination, this is a totally different sound. It’s hard to say if this is the result of the Midwest scene or a specific result of Castevet’s personal style, but it’s almost a more sophisticated brand of indie/punk hybrid. At least, the music is distinguished. The vocals, on the other hand: good luck deciphering them. It sounds like Cedric from The Mars Volta is on Valium and pretty pissed off about being in slow motion. When the music’s hitting hard, it fits. But the band has a tendency to alternate tempos, and the half-hearted guttural vocals are sometimes awkwardly out of place. That point aside, Castevet is a tight band displaying creative musicianship and a deep understanding of both their instruments and their chosen genres. The dancing guitar riffs of songs like “(Get) Bucktown” and “Six Parts Summer” compliment the intricate drum parts perfectly. Their song “Midwest Values” is bisected by an awesome melodic breakdown and contains an emotionally striking outro; the rest of the song (all of the parts containing vocals) comes off as quite mediocre, pulling the listener towards the conclusion that Castevet would probably work better as an instrumental band.