Review Summary: Close To Home are yet another post-hardcore band trying to find their way in an overcrowded genre filled with mediocre bands.
Thankfully, CTH seem to have their head slightly above water all thanks to newcomer and saving grace Andrew DeNeef who takes over vocal duties. While his screams sound eerily similar to Attack Attack!'s Caleb Shomo, his cleans are some of the genres best.
CTH have ditched their pop-punk sound for the most part and have taken a more focused post-hardcore approach to their music. The album starts with an instrumental intro that leads into one of the album's highlights, "Don't Waste Your Breath." DeNeef shows off his infectious cleans in one of the best choruses on the album. Close To Home have a knack for catchy choruses which is a good thing considering everything else on the album is just plain average. Your typical chugging chords are present, and while the band try their best to stray from breakdowns, they seem to go back to them eventually. The bass is inaudible and the drums try their best to stand out but ultimately get drowned out by the guitars and vocals. The band show us that they are officially in the scene by employing Kyle Pavone and David Stephens of We Came as Romans fame on the track "Family Ties." While I'm not a fan of WCAR, their guest spots improve an otherwise mediocre song. The album's best track is the closer "Nights Like Tonight." Completely void of screams, DeNeef gets to show off his impressive clean vocals ending the album on a strong note.
Aside from the incredibly catchy chourses and above average clean vocals, Close To Home have released a post-hardcore album that does its best to stand out in the genre. CTH have shown a much needed improvement over their last album and while they certainly arent one of the genres worst, they ultimately get lost in the crowd and I dont see that changing any time soon.
Recommended Tracks: Dont Waste Your Breath, Pirates At Sea, Hanging Onto Nothing, Family Ties, Sleepless In Cincinnati, Nights Like Tonight
