Review Summary: Like they never left
It feels wildly improbable to be listening to a new Athletics album in 2025. This isn’t just a comment based on the thirteen year gap since their last LP, the near-classic
Who You Are Is Not Enough, but also a note that the music landscape has changed, and the scene this New York band once epitomized is nowhere near as prevalent as it once was. Athletics never achieved mass popularity, and might not have matched Moving Mountains’ explosiveness, or Gates’ accessibility, or TWIABP&IANLATD’s charm (ooof, need a nap after typing that last one), but they represented the platonic ideal of sound for that particular niche of emo/post-rock which found relevance in the late 2000s/early 2010s. These days, that movement is mostly spent, with various associated acts generally either disbanded, only intermittently active, or focusing on different sonic influences.
Regardless, here come Athletics, acting like they never left. Most blatantly, where
Who You Are Is Not Enough consisted of five tracks titled in the fashion of Roman numerals from “I” to “V”, the first track of this reunion record is named “VI”. On the whole,
What Makes You Think This Is How It All Ends? doesn’t showcase much evolution at all, aside from a slight proclivity for shorter songs, and perhaps a bit heavier sonic approach (especially in the final three track stretch). Indeed, your ears will be greeted like an old friend with softly beautiful soundscapes melting into soaring climaxes and soothingly emotive vox intermixed with the occasional impassioned shout for good measure.
Even if the resulting record feels a bit like a time capsule, I’m very glad it was released (and/or dug up from the backyard, who’s to say?). Much like Athletics’ previous material, this release is unlikely to convince naysayers who dislike post-rock/emo hybrids, but fans of the style should be entranced - not only is this album consistently quality, but its balance of energy and atmosphere feels spot on. The guitar tone is pristine, the beauty of the gentler sections is self-evident, and the more rocking instances, well, simply
rock. Taken as a whole, the band still knows how to stir the soul. I’m skeptical that the album quite matches the standard of excellence set by
Who You Are Is Not Enough, given its comparative lack of transcendent moments, but it remains a sublime and immersive listen.
What Makes You Think This Is How It All Ends? is a convincing demonstration from Athletics that, all this time later, they’ve still got it, and the results are impressive enough that I’m certainly hoping this album isn’t “how it all ends” for the group. Regardless, welcome back, boys.
