Review Summary: This album was honestly a pleasant surprise.
Georgia metalcore quintet Issues return with
Headspace, their sophomore full-length studio outing via Rise Records. This group has really built something of a cult following the last couple of years; they've certainly drawn attention in part to their penchant for combining several different genres. The root of their sound is predominantly metalcore, though with this group, you can find traces of nu metal, R&B and even pop. Don't expect to hear them on the radio though, especially with this new album. With
Headspace, much to my surprise, the group holds on to the instruments, and the record even outstrips their self titled debut by leaps and bounds; moreover,
Headspace, as poppy as it is, is actually more hard hitting than anything this group has released in years past.
Not a perfect album, opening track "The Realest" is easily the worst track on this record, and "Home Soon" isn't a lot better. It might work to the group's advantage, however, that the weaker tracks begin
Headspace, because the record does eventually pick up a head of steam later on, exactly when the album needs to have the listener's undivided attention. "The Realest" sees unclean vocalist Michael Bohn deliver an underwhelming performance, one that in particular, has drawn comparison to fellow Atlanta native Chris Fronzak of Attila. Thankfully, you'll see with this album what you couldn't see from Attila; solid cleans from, in this case, Tyler Carter, as well as the tightly wound production that so many 'core' bands have been consistently bereft of.
Tyler Acord makes his recorded debut here, and he brings a lot to the table, figuratively and literally. Providing keyboard play, synths, turntables and even aiding the group with the album's production, Acord boasts as one of the most valuable contributors to this project, and he really deserves a large share of the credit for how high quality this album turned out. Tracks like "Made to Last" display how Acord's production adds more depth to a song already equipped with a singalong chorus and solid riffage from AJ Rebello. Bohn's unclean vocals sound a lot more fluid on "Made to Last", definitely in your face, but not abrasive or underwhelming. Carter's cleans are the bedrock of the album, particularly on "Made to Last." Bohn, at his best and worst, undoubtedly puts forth effort, but this group works at its best when Bohn flies through the verses and Carter takes over on the choruses, almost all of which carry singalong value and even some replay value.
At the same time, however, tracks like "Flojo" show that Bohn is a capable unclean vocalist after all, and Carter even hits a few potholes en route to his destination; clocking in at exactly 44 minutes, this 13 track outing provides just three tracks less than three minutes long, something you don't see with core bands of this status. With more time to work with, the listener gets to see every member of the group get his own moment in the spotlight. Drummer Josh Manuel provides a hard hitting performance with the sticks, particularly on the track "Hero", which also sees another weak vocal performance, both from Carter and Bohn, the latter of whom tries and fails at delivering clean vocals.
"I Always Knew" is easily the "softest" track on
Headspace. The track reminds the listener that he or she is listening to a band that has been labeled pop and R&B. Whether or not the softer, mid-tempo approach works is a subjective matter. With Carter and Bohn putting away the microphones for two minutes and four seconds, the track does boast as a prime opportunity for Acord to shine with his turntable/production combo. The track then leads to what is not only the last track on
Headspace, but the best track on it as well. "Slow Me Down" sees what is arguably the best clean vocal performance of Tyler Carter's career. Bohn's uncleans return to the more fluid and listenable style they flirted with on tracks like "Made to Last."
I was expecting to be utterly disgusted by
Headspace, but I guess moving forward, I won't be so quick to write off a band like Issues. A band with pop and R&B leanings can still deliver a hard hitting record, and the fact that Issues can do so is already the crowning achievement of this record; this is all without mentioning that almost every track on
Headspace is better than anticipated. I'm not sold as far to call myself a full fledged fan of this group, but thanks to their pleasant surprise of an album, they've certainly got me headed in that direction.
