Review Summary: Silverstein pours their energy and creativity into yet another album
For years, Silverstein has been one of the most consistent, creative, and energetic post hardcore bands around. This album proves no different, as it starts off with "Toronto (Abridged)" a song that gives you a sense of nostalgia, reminding you of the time you may have spent listening to Discovering The Waterfront on repeat in your bedroom. With every release that Silverstein has, I can't say that they change it up too much, they've mostly just expanded and broadened their horizons, and with every album they've poured more and more creativity into each and every track. They're still playing the amazing melodic post hardcore that they always have.
Throughout the album the vocals are incredibly consistent and sound just as amazing as they have with every album that they put out, with vocalist Shane Told's voice balancing well, with strong cleans and even stronger screamed vocals that fit very well with the instrumentation and the sound that they've put out since the start of the career. The guitars on this album, albeit not really different from anything else they've done, are fresh and creative enough to keep you interested, and the lead guitar compliments the songs well while the rhythm guitar drives every verse and chorus. The drumming fit well with each and every song, and I can certainly say that there was nothing that I could see missing from each member's contribution to the songs.
The third track, "Face Of The Earth", showcases their heavy side, which is normally only seen for a short time in each verse of almost every one of their other songs. The clean vocals were still there, but the lower sounding guitars and the rough riffs paired with the sweeping and almost serene sounding lead guitar formed a very pleasurable listening experience. "Milestone" was another one of the heavier tracks, with a catchy chorus paired with the very fast and almost frantic verses, covered up by the screams that have found their place in almost every one of their songs. Halfway through the song I found myself sitting back and truly being blown away by just how far this band has come and how truly impressive they have been with every album, and this release is definitely the same. I couldn't help but be impressed with every single song as it played.
When I was listening to this album, I honestly couldn't find a single thing to not like about it. The lyrics were as unique and creative as they always have been, still capturing those concepts of loss, love, and essentially, growing up. The lyrics, as descriptive as they were, were still written in a way that opened it up for interpretation, and this truly allows for listeners to assign their own meaning to the words, and give them the ability to relate to each and every line as it pours into their ears or as they read through the lyrics, trying to force those words into their head so they can sing along with the next listen.
"Late On 6th" slows it down, following an energetic and uptempo track that kept the momentum going for the album. This track starts out quietly, with a serene note repeating over and over again, pressing its way into your head as the drums slowly roll into the background, taking the backseat as this note continues. Then the vocals come in, Told's voice complimenting the peaceful aesthetic created by the intro well. This song truly expresses the beauty that this band can portray and show, while it's not as prevalent in other tracks, it's still there if you look for it, and with this track, it's definitely at the forefront. The melodic lead guitar whispers its way behind the vocals and the deep, echoing drums, creating this sense of emptiness in the track while the vocals soothe you and tell you a story, fighting for your attention, and honestly, you can't help but focus on it.
After listening to this, I had to take a few minutes to reflect on what I had just experienced. Everything that I could ever want in an album was there, and it was done so well. Every aspect of what makes Silverstein, and the post hardcore genre, great, was there in the best ways possible. Over the years Silverstein has made a name for themselves, and this album, along with the rest of their discography, proves that they deserve it. If you like Silverstein, you will absolutely love this album. If you didn't like their previous efforts, there is still enough here that you could probably get some enjoyment out of it.
