If There Is Light, It Will Find You

構成数 : 1枚
合計収録時間 : 00:44:47
Audio Mixer: Beau Burchell. Recording information: Seahorse Studios, Los Angeles, CA; The Cottage. Photographer: Jonathan Weiner. On the band's seventh album, If There Is Light, It Will Find You, the Buddy Nielsen-led group Senses Fail lighten the tone with punchy punk blasts while maintaining a trademark helpless and nihilistic mood. Nowhere near as aggressive and heavy as the borderline metalcore 2015 release Pull the Thorns from Your Heart, Light presents a batch of nostalgic early-aughts pop-punk and screamo anthems that should please fans of AFI, Rise Against, and Jimmy Eat World. Produced by Saosin's Beau Burchell, Light also marks the return of drummer Dan Trapp to an effort written entirely by Nielsen. In typical emo fashion, the frontman's heartbreak and rage are present throughout, emerging through his blood-curdling screaming, but also in his pure clean vocals that seeth with tension and yearning. On "Elevator to the Gallows," he screams "I'd rather die than be with you, my love," while "'You Get So Alone at Times It Just Makes Sense" is a dark reflection on his lowest suicidal moments. "Orlando and a Miscarriage" is summed up with the sad line "I wish I could see your face, but life I guess had other plans," but that sentiment is rocketed to the heavens on the overwhelmingly agonized title track. Unflinching confessionals like this elevate Light, despite the dour content. Whether directing his frustration and anger inward or at the world at large, Nielsen finds the world has failed him -- as have friends and lovers. The highlight single "Gold Jacket, Green Jacket..." is pure punk nihilism, rallying against the status quo with a stubborn smile and a pair of middle fingers, taking aim at his generation, Big Pharma, materialism, and America's devotion to God, guns, and government. Nielsen has a lot to say and Light is packed with his biting observations and ruminations. Fans of the band's earlier output might find it a little too musically soft for their tastes, but with such deep emotional content, If There Is Light, It Will Find You remains a heavy, cathartic, and honest statement from Senses Fail. ~ Neil Z. Yeung