Some four years after the groundbreaking '
Stage Four', where Jeremy Bolm worked through the death of his mother and the ensuing grief,
Touché Amoré return with a much more forward-thinking and outward-looking record.
The after-effects of 'Stage Four' are still prevalent, particularly in the first half of '
Lament' – even if the relationship is never fully described – but this is a record more concerned about observations of the human condition which have been gathered over the last four years.
Having excelled in the concept album format on both 'Stage Four' and 2013's '
Is Survived By' – an exploration of legacy – the shift to a more traditional form is freeing for the Californians. This is reflected in their most ambitiously sounding record to date, with songs stretching into the five-minute territory ('Limelight), dabbling in post-punk ('Lament') or big swathes of melody ('
Reminders'). In relation to 'Is Survived By' – where the message was delivered at the speed of sound – such subtlety feels a world away. Yet, it also feels entirely natural, as if the shackles have been released, allowing Touché Amoré to flex their creative muscles in new and exciting ways. Take opener '
Come Heroine', which leans on the slow/loud maelstrom of post-rock titans Explosions In The Sky far more than the bludgeoning intensity of more traditional hardcore staples.
