Review Summary: Silverstein has done it again.
One thing that’s always stood out to me about Silverstein is how passionate they are about their music. There’s just something about Shane Told’s vocals that manage to hit all the right notes with the listener as they’re sung over the band’s often heartfelt and inspirational lyrics. Thankfully, the band’s newest effort
This is How The Wind Shifts is no different. In fact, it’s one of the most passionate and ambitious albums the band has released in years.
Generously packed into Silverstein’s seventh full length are 14 new tracks. Although three of the songs clock in under the 2 minute mark and feel like interludes, it would be foolish to dismiss them as they contain soothing vocals that help build the perfect atmosphere around the surrounding tracks. However, it’s no secret that Silverstein are at their very best when they take everything up a notch and they waste no time with the opening track ‘Stand Amid The Roar.’ It was the first single off the album and it’s not hard to see why. It contains all the Silverstein essentials with its flashy guitar work, fast-paced drumming and of course, Told’s exceptional vocal performance. As always, he’s able to transition between screams and cleans with what seems like little to no effort. The second single off the album ‘Massachusetts’ also shows off his strong singing ability and it remains one of the most memorable songs on the album along with the addicting and upbeat ‘California.’
As enjoyable as the first two singles are, they certainly don’t mark new territory for the band. That’s where ‘In A Place Of Solace’ comes into play. The song contains no clean vocals and it’s one of the most original and creative hardcore songs the band has ever written. Unlike many of the band’s other hardcore songs, it takes its time and strives on superb musicianship rather than breakdowns or trying to play as fast as possible. Instead, it’s a slow paced beast of a song that contains some of the most impressive vocals and instrumentation the band has ever laid to record.
Silverstein have always managed to write more inspirational lyrics than their peers and
This is How The Wind Shifts is no exception. Not unlike their other releases, they’ve saved the most poignant tracks for the end of the release in the form of ‘To Live and To Lose’ and ‘With Second Chances.’ The track names might be self explanatory but both songs are full of a level of passion and honesty that few bands in the genre are able to replicate. Finally, the band close the album with the creative ‘Departures’. It’s an atmospheric and even epic sounding song that brings the album to an unexpected and satisfying close.
On the surface
This is How The Wind Shifts can easily be mistaken for just another Silverstein album but this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. On The contrary, their seventh album marks a triumphant return for the band as it contains some of the most impressive songs they have released in years. Songs like ‘California’ and ‘A Better Place’ are full of energy and glowing with confidence while other tracks like ‘In A Place of Solace’ and ‘Departures’ stand proud as some of the most creative, ambitious songs the band has written in their entire career. It's safe to say the winds have certainly shifted in the band's favor as Silverstein has managed to release yet another solid album that has rightfully earned its place alongside the band’s best work.
