Though “Cross The Sea” starts with a delicate little guitar intro and Dave Benton’s quiet vocals, it doesn’t take long to learn what LVL UP are really up to. Pretty soon massive power chords begin stomping their way through the track and those vocals go from shy to soaring with ease. The SUNY-born group makes scuzzy power pop in the vein of Guided By Voices or Weezer — it’s the sort of music that makes you want to pump your fist and yell every lyric at the top of your lungs. “Sea,” which is out soon on a split single with Porches., crams so many memorable guitar riffs into such a small span of time, there’s just not an ounce of fat to been seen here. To put it simply if you’re a rock band making a song that’s one letter away from having the title of the best song on Pinkerton you better be able to back it up. LVL UP do that beautifully. You can listen below and check the band out on tour with Pile (who recently destroyed at Exploding In Sound’s CMJ showcase).

The split single is due out 11/26 via Birdtapes and Double Double Whammy. Pre-order here.

Tour Dates:
10/25 Bronx, NY @ Fordham University w/ Little Big League
10/26 Hoboken, NJ @ Stevens Institute w/ Little Big League
10/27 Richmond, VA @ Boyzhaus w/ Little Big League
10/29 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 w/ The World Is…
10/30 Atlanta, GA @ Under the Couch w/ The World Is…
10/31 Tallahassee @ Mockingbird w/ Pile, Ex-Breathers and Send Away Stranger
11/1-3 Fest 12
11/4 Savannah GA @ Hangfire w/ Pile
11/5 Charleston SC @ Royal American w/ Pile
11/6 Charlotte NC @ Milestone w/ Pile
11/7 Harrisonburg VA @ Crayola House w/ Pile & Death Cassettes
11/8 Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Art Space w/ Pile, Two Inch Astronaut, & Flashlight O
11/9 Ithaca NY @ Cornell w/ Pile
12/5 Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium Big Snow Benefit