Review Summary: Part of the peak.
Rather than the band’s previous heavy direction, Division often selects atmospheric acoustic bits over chunky riffs. Losing nothing in the transition, 10 Years’ songwriting remains strong, somber, and energetic all at once. Whereas songs in The Autumn Effect hosted a selection of similar sounding tracks, Division’s variety is superior. Despite tracks that are literally seamless and transition into each other, each track is vastly different. 10 Years highlight the distinct themes of lyrics between tracks with different instruments (including world music influence), and different methods of playing them. In addition, Division is a much prettier album than previous, which may indicate a more radio friendly direction. Rather than sounding like a weaker version of their original content, 10 Years’ lavished melodies, hypnotic instrumentation, and emotional lyrics cultivate a listen that demands attention.
If an album is only as good as its singer, there is nothing to fear. Jesse Hasek’s approach leaves nothing to be desired, except more tracks. Whatever range a track sits in, Jesse fulfills it, and with a tone that suggests he is completely immersed in the music. He hits the emotional core of tracks perfectly, expertly even, with a performance better than the previous album. The lyrics in Division detail regrets, failures, a firm commitment to change, love lost, and other relatable topics. They’re generic topics, but turned into intriguing poetry as per the previous album. 10 Years’ unique lyrics in Division continue to be a high point that sets the band apart from others. I’ll leave the lyrics for Beautiful with you:
“Beauty over wisdom to fit in with their styles
Your Cinderella story's for a price
Vanity's a business built to fleece the unique
Silicon and stars collide; the rest will fall in line”.
Division is a gorgeous album in a new direction with alt rock strongly infused. Make no mistake though, 10 Years remain in the business of producing bangers. Less heavy tracks - aside from gentle ballads - have quite a jump to them, and are as catchy as you’d expect from the band. Heavier tracks are present too, providing a generous dose of sizzle. The heavier tracks absolutely slap, and provide a huge bang for your buck. Combined with fairly scathing lyrics, 10 Years’ sound is deliciously edgy.
It’s important to point out how strongly I vibed with this album. The lyrics opened a door to Jesse’s past in a transparent, almost awkward manner, and the vulnerability truly made this album something special. The music though breathes every emotional note with pinpoint precision. In terms of emotional storytelling, the songwriting is not just on point, half of the songs are practically masterpieces. This is no ordinary alt rock/metal release, to say the least. I left the album completely gutted from the heart wrenching delivery.
With each passing album, 10 Years make the most of their musical style. Though many would call their next album a dud, it too has its strengths. 10 Years have always been a band to check out, one that have consistently given solid tracks through the ages. I originally balked at checking Division out due to the generic looking art. Don’t make the same mistake, it’s one of their best, and essential listening for any fan of their respective genre.
