To begin with, I personally hold a whole lot of very positive, and negative, experiences dear to myself connected to this band. So to listen to a new record of the first band I ever properly flew to a different city for is quite a challenge for my musically neutral mind. There were expectations for this record. There certainly were. Not too high. But also not too low. After all, this band shaped me heavily in one way or another. But it still awoke nothing but disappointment in me.
The record starts rather slow with Big Red Gun and it has a hard time to actually build itself up further on. While Ghost Ship outshines its previous two tracks easily, hope dies down rather quickly again as soon as Louder Than The DJ rolls along. Its overplayed theme makes you slouch your shoulders with a tragic sigh, even though there might be live potential for it.
Definitely the highlight of it all is The Crutch which finally rumbles the atmosphere with its differential take on. While it is still very much Billy Talent, it's a new and exciting side of it.
Joy isn't around for long. Rabbit Down The Hole swallows it whole and as does the rest of the album till the outro, February Winds, saves at least the end. A personal major letdown is This Is Our War. The title itself promises a rather aggressive, controversial and rebellious vibe. But once the first notes hit, it's nothing but their The Navy Song all over again.
As much as I love these guys and as much as I wanted this record to be nothing but themselves, it's too much of the same old again. Staying true to yourselves, all good and well. But mix it up a bit next time, boys, please?
Hardcore fans of the band will still dig it. While they will have a bit of a tough time adapting to the music as well, it'll grow on them eventually. If not now, at latest when the live shows hit their towns.
Fave song(s): The Crutch, February Winds
Overall: 5/10
Cheerio xx
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