Review Summary: Long live the old Silverstein, but the new is pretty good too.
Silverstein’s new album is a mixed bag, and for better or worse it treads along the new direction the band is taking. The post-hardcore of the past is often traded for rock with pop influences. It’s a sound that helps them to fit snug in the modern world, while not entirely burning the old Silverstein. A Beautiful Place to Drown was a little boring, but this album shows the redemption of Silverstein’s new sound, sort of.
Misery Made Me is a strange one. It has blistering moments like Die Alone, which is the hardest Silverstein have sounded in a while. Mostly, it’s a punk-infused rock album with pop elements that sound straight out of the 2000s. It’s quite fun, and very easily digestible. The vocals are as great as ever, and the riffs are especially noteworthy. The only song that is outright bad is The Altar / Mary, which has a personality disorder.
The large problem with Misery Made Me is that it’s not Silverstein. I mean it is, it’s just a watered down version. Silverstein are treading new ground. Perhaps they should have never bothered, but roll with the punches and you’ll find a pleasant listen. It’s a catchy, heavy album that is mostly engaging throughout. It’s definitely not Silverstein’s best, but I doubt anyone was expecting that at this stage in their career. I may miss the old Silverstein, but this album isn’t unjustified.
