Review Summary: The New Jersey quartet appear to be brimming with potential, and I’m left to wonder if Out of Service will continue to be consistently good or deliver a towering magnum opus in their future
Depression and anxiety are common themes in modern day rock, and those familiar with the indie/alt scene do not have to look far for records about fighting off your demons.
On Burden, Out of Service wear their heart (and their influences) on their sleeve in this regard, and while the results could have easily come off as derivative, the band manages to keep the songs fresh with charismatic vocals and tight instrumentals.
From the opening notes of "Threshold", Mike Capuano’s croons draw the listener into his world as he describes how another routine day came crashing down due to anxiety and low self esteem. The vocals and guitars are fragile and feel ready to explode at any moment but never do, which suits the emotions of "Threshold" perfectly.
Ironically, the next song “Sleep” is a hard rock anthem that serves to wake the listener up and display Capuano’s upper register for what might be one of the best choruses of the year. Content matches form perfectly as the bridge breaks down leaving only the guitar and vocals, almost as though the listener was put on a two minute joy ride that led to a steep cliff overlooking a dark void. Here, Capuano offers himself an ultimatum concerning his stagnancy, singing “this is all I’ve been granted / i could lay here forever / time to strap in and make a choice”
Burden excels at being its own cohesive entity with no song sounding out of place. However, that does not mean that Out of Service do not take any risks to distinguish themselves from their contemporaries. “Chemicals” displays this perfectly, as bouncy guitars drive the first half of the song, and Capuano’s gentle vocals guide us toward a soaring saxophone solo in the outro. I’ve always felt that jazz elements could be implemented more with indie rock, and “Chemicals” proves exactly why.
Though the back end of the record may not be as strong as its first half, the band offers an incredibly catchy chorus in “Uneasy” and vivid imagery into Capuano’s psyche in the spoken word “Erie” that still make listening worthwhile.
With Burden, Out of Service have proven they are capable songwriters that demand respect in the scene. And yet...there still feels at times that something is missing on the record. Many of the songs teeter on the edge of good and great, with only a few instances of the band breaking through to the latter’s side completely.
Burden could benefit from more heart wrenching imagery found in the lyrics of "Stories", or more wailing guitars as showcased in "Ash". While the lyrics as a whole were relatable and conjured strong feelings, I cannot walk away from the record with many hard hitting one liners stuck in my head in the way that influences like Jesse Lacey or Ben Gibbard may achieve. Songs like "Name " or "Tomorrow" are begging to be fleshed out more but end abruptly.
The New Jersey quartet appear to be brimming with potential, and I’m left to wonder if Out of Service will continue to be consistently good or deliver a towering magnum opus in their future akin to The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me or Transatlanticism. I can’t wait to find out.
