Review Summary: Although a somewhat generic release, Truth Is, although not the best release of this year, is still worth a listen, if not two.
After being introduced to the scene with their album If You Don't First (released unfortunately by Rise Records), Ten After Two have changed their sound up a bit. I wasn't expecting much from this album and I was pleasantly surprised by the release. So prepared for 4 minute long back breaking breakdowns, and typical clean sung choruses I dove into Truth Is.
Truth Is begins with "Yes". You are greeted with what you would probably expect from any band on Rise, and most bands in this genre altogether. Harsh screams, a few interesting riffs here and there, and high-pitched soaring cleans mashed together to create a less-than-memorable track. "Yes" then leads into "Before You Know It", and clean vocals dominate in this song. Which isn't a bad thing. Although the cleans stick to the aforementioned style, the vocalist shows that he is capable of singing and he has a marvelous range and fantastic tone. The album is worth a listen just for the clean sung parts themselves. The guitarists also prove their worth on this album, straying from the breakdown playing style and showcases the technicality we got hints of on their previous effort.
The next two songs could probably be classified as filler. Following the same formula as "Yes", they aren't bad tracks, at all. But they don't have anything to distinguish them from other bands who do the exact same thing. It isn't until "Anxious" that the album really starts to quicken the pace. Beginning with a very heavy beginning "Anxious" showcases the heavier side of Ten After Two, while also having one of the catchiest choruses on the album, and eerie synth in the background. "Well, Oh Well", although a good track, doesn't quite follow the energy and heaviness of "Anxious".
But, the band earns their forgiveness by following with the best track on the album, "Truth Is". Ten After Two manage to get everything right in this song. With a catchy chorus some nice guitar work, great lyrics, and some nice guitar work, this is just a good song. The track that follows is an interesting instrumental, that is a little bit of a haunting song. Sadly, the next two songs on the album are the same filler seen previously on the album, but these tracks focused on a more pop-punk, clean vocal dominated sound. But Ten After Two aren't finished yet, just when you think the album is finished, they throw a curveball at you.
The album closes with "Believe Me",a song with no screams at all. It begins with a soft piano intro and the rest of the band joins in at about the minute mark. A nice surprise from the heaviness of the album but maybe not the best choice for a closing track. For being such a young band (the oldest member being 19), Ten After Two have put forth an effort that they should be really proud of, besides being a bit generic there is a lot to enjoy in this album. I look forward to seeing what this band can do in the future, as long as they rid of the filler.
