In a genre regularly infiltrated by young and untested upstarts, fake emotion, and trivial, usually contrived musicianship, it’s minor miracle that some bands manage to make it past their second or third album with any sort of dignity intact. So when a band ages with not just grace, but ferocity, it’s time to figure out which deity was racking up sacrifices and make sure you add to the proceedings in some meaningful way.

I don’t know which obscure, ancient, vengeful deity I should sing praises to, but thanks, who/whatever you are, for Every Time I Die.

A band like this shouldn’t exist, and they shouldn’t be this good, and they shouldn’t be getting better. Comprised of a new dad, an author, an amateur wrestler, and a couple of well traveled road dogs, Every Time I Die is currently riding the wave of their most recent full-length From Parts Unknown and an EP titled Salem. Frankly, it’s one that they could ride for a while, as it’s a high note in a career filled with infinitely more peaks than valleys. Filled with as many blistering critiques of modern life as it is with gnarly riffs, From Parts Unknown highlights everything Every Time I Die doesn’t just do well, but excels at - sometimes sprawling, always concise, never undermined by the direction of any one genre, they’re a band that has always kind of just done whatever the hell they wanted, with little regard for how many people were listening.

Heavy with more than just breakdowns, each of their albums has been a step in the evolution of a band seeking to both raise the bar and drink everyone else under it. When it comes to their live show, it’s much the same. A band that I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a handful of times, they’re always one that I find myself excited to see again as soon as they leave the stage. It’s raucous, energetic, sometimes offensive - I’ve watched one member of the band drink beer from the prosthetic leg of a particular adventurous fan and an officer of the law stand on another stage with his hand on his weapon as fans were warned to stop crowd surfing inside a venue that had a mechanical bull. Another time vocalist Keith Buckley used the word “umbrage” in a brief speech encouraging fans to get a little rowdier during an upcoming song. So, they straddle an interesting line, I guess.

Catch them Thursday, December 3 at Bogart’s with headliners (and admittedly great live band) August Burns Red, along with Stick To Your Guns, Polyphia, and Wage War. Be sure to pick up or stream or whatever Every Time I Die’s latest full length, From Parts Unknown (one of my favorite albums from last year), as well as their RSD release from earlier this year, Salem(featuring a fantastic Nirvana cover), both out now on Epitaph Records.

For fans looking forward to another classic and intense Every Time I Die experience, you may already know about vocalist Keith Buckley's family emergency that has taken him off of the tour for the foreseeable future. The band has chosen to continue the tour, though, and will have guest vocalists and "friends" of the band taking over vocal duties. We wish Keith, his wife, and their daughter all the best, and a speedy, full recovery.