Review Summary: Drink up your Loneliness
To truly relate to this album, one has to first understand the human condition. At some point, most of us have dealt with loneliness, despair, or even addiction, but we usually don't like to talk about it. Thankfully, we don't have to as frontman Buddy Nielsen does all the talking for us on the bands sophomore release, "Still Searching". It's more than just an album, it's a head-first dive into our darkest fears and insecurities.
Not only are the lyrics painfully honest, but the music is heavier as well. There are still tracks that will please fans of the bands debut, but as a whole this is a completely different listening experience. The album opens with 'The Rapture' in which Buddy sings "I wont be saved" and "we're destined to all die alone". Next up is the fast paced 'bonecrusher' which is about Buddy's struggle with alcoholism. In these songs the band showcases how they can take dark lyrical themes and turn them into upbeat and memorable tracks.
The listener is given an emotional break with the more accessible 'Calling All Cars' and 'Can't be Saved'. Although these songs aren't quite as heavy they are undeniably catchy and manage to adhere to the albums somewhat depressing topics. Some may recognize 'Can't be Saved' from Guitar Hero 3. With it's impressive guitar work and sing-along chorus it's not hard to figure out why they chose this song.
This brings us to the second half of the album which contain some of the best songs Senses Fail have ever written. The title track is the most personal song on here and it portrays feelings of addiction and isolation perfectly. In the second half of the song Buddy sings "My best friend is a man, with a lab coat and a grin, I put out my shaking hand, and he gives me medicine".
The honesty in these lines definitely captures what it feels like to be in the midst of full blown addiction. This song is topped only by the albums final track.
Without a doubt, 'The Priest and the Matador' takes the cake for best song on the album. It's also the closest thing to a ballad to be found here. 'Negative Space' precedes the closer but both songs should be heard back to back. At just a minute and a half in length the song has no vocals but features the same guitar notes as 'Priest and the Matador' which sets the mood for the grand finale.
We all face consequences for our actions and the final track shows how devastating those consequences can be. In the song is a man who has lost all his faith and decides to take his own life. It's a fitting conclusion to an album that so flawlessly portrays the inner-conflicts of the human mind. Anybody who has ever felt hopeless or alone should be able to relate to this album. It's aggressive, thought provoking, and remains one of the bands best releases to date.
Recommended Tracks:
Negative Space/The Priest and the Matador
Still Searching
Bonecrusher
Can't be Saved
Calling All Cars
