With a guitar sound that takes you back to the 90s as it recalls the likes of Hum and Failure, the androgynous tenor of the vocals adds a lighter layer of emotion, While the dynamics are similar at times this is a brighter more hopeful sound than the early years of Smashing Pumpkins. Influenced by the past there is still a great deal of modern flair to the overall sound. The more emotive ballad-like tenderness that possesses the title tracks as it coasts similarly to Deftones. The vocal coo highlights this fact. The album is very well produced as it creates space for all the swirling effects coating the vocals and guitar a place to co-exist.
"Chemicals" might be shoe-gazing pop music but it works well for what it is and shows these guys care about writing songs as much as they do capturing this sound. The shimmer of the guitar takes more dominance in "The Place That I Belong" even though the drums are pounding away under them and the vocals are more of a texture. They return center stage on "Give Blood" which is more of an atmospheric rock song despite the hushed vocals, as the guitar brings an anthemic authority. "Nightmares" floats in on a cloud of ambiance and is not as dark as the title might suggest. This is my only complaint about the overall mood of this album, and it's more of a personal preference, but it could stand to be more melancholy, which is surprising since they released an ep of Depeche Mode covers.
They do begin to shift into a moodier direction for "Under Streetlights". The guitar has to set the stage in this regard as the vocals pretty much maintain what they have been doing for the bulk of the album. The last song is more dynamic and packs more of a punch when the guitars kick in. I will give this album a 9, and see how it grows on me. I think it should appeal to rock-minded shoe-gaze listeners and appeal to post-hardcore kids who like the poppy side of the genre. This album drops March 14 on Pelagic Records.
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