Review Summary: eternal underdogs return (and secure their status)
In spite of their (many) missteps, it's hard not to root for Have Mercy. Sure, they have the mildest of semi-classics under their belt in the form of
The Earth Pushed Back, but does anyone truly
remember that album, or do we all just remember the way it (and albums like it) slotted into our sad, sad lives in 2013? And uh, can anyone recall what came after that record? A few middling albums boasting some quality singles, one pretty terrible album, and… they split up, maybe? They got back together, maybe?
It's almost as if Have Mercy's timeline ended somewhere around (or before) the release of 2019's
The Love Life for most fans of overly emotional pop punk. A sentiment of “the band burned out, too bad, let's move on” prevailed. Thing is - Have Mercy tried moving on too, and came to the conclusion that they were better off making music together. 2022 yielded a decent EP at least a handful of people heard, and now, released in mid-December to ensure they'll remain underdogs for the coming years,
NUMB marks the band's first full length in four years… and their best in a decade.
Sure,
NUMB benefits from the goodwill Have Mercy have built up in my eyes as it hardly comprises something groundbreaking, but it is a solid batch of songs by a band that didn't seem capable of putting together a consistent album anymore. Brian Swindle delivers his best recorded vocals to date and rightfully assumes the spotlight in every cut, masterfully obscuring some of the more unremarkable instrumental textures with passionate performances. In essence, each song sounds like it could be the Closing Track on any given mid-2010s pop punk album, but the band somehow pull it off. They’re embracing emotion in a way that feels authentic and authentically flawed. Swindle croons, whispers and yells his way through memorable hooks - the songwriting is dynamic
enough and manages to keep the record more than afloat during its thirty-seven minutes. Above all, however,
NUMB captures a wonderfully wistful atmosphere. Have Mercy are a band worth rooting for, and this new record makes me feel a lot more confident in saying that.
