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Taking Back Sunday confirm that this is the best album they’ve made in 10 years.
Label: Hopeless Records
Released: September 16th 2016
Rating: ★★★★
In recent years, there have been question marks mercilessly thrown around the future of Taking Back Sunday. They unleashed the absolute world-conquerer that is ‘Louder Now’ a full decade ago, but what followed from the New York emo bastions was a trio of comparably mediocre near-misses.
‘Tidal Wave”s titular punk rager makes a mischievous splash with its chaotic choruses and feeling of much-needed vitality. In just 2 and a half minutes, Taking Back Sunday confirm that this is the best album they’ve made in 10 years.
It’d be naive to think that the rest of the album would pack as much of a punch. ‘All Excess’ and ‘Call Come Running’ pick up the pace with more complex composition, but for the most part, ‘Tidal Wave’ is a more soothing affair.
Even in their waning decade, Adam Lazzara never let up as arguably the most charismatic frontman of his time. His approach on this album is less bombastic than before, carrying more of a blue-collar charm. Meanwhile, the band are brushing their signature strokes of layered harmonies and hearty hooks across a canvas of star-spangled Americana.
‘Tidal Wave’ marks an eventual ‘coming of age’ for Taking Back Sunday. They’re hardly ‘growing old gracefully’, they’re just becoming more aware of their limitations as they gradually near their 20th anniversary.
As mature and mellow as it gets, the record still lashes out that sense of urgency which reminds you just how much you still need a band like Taking Back Sunday: a band which finally holds the promise of a less-lukewarm future ahead. Danny Randon
