Impossible Weight＜Sea Foam Green Vinyl＞

With their third full-length outing, Impossible Weight, Seattle-based indie rock band Deep Sea Diver delve deeper into pain and emotional turmoil. Fronted by singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter Jessica Dobson, the quartet build upon the promise of 2016s Secrets, tightening the songcraft with satisfying results. Although shes faithfully backed by drummer Peter Mansen, bassist Garret Gue, and second guitarist Elliot Jackson, this is clearly the Dobson show. Facing depression, conflict, bad relationships, and much more, she gives an urgent and passionate performance, pushing her vocals and searing guitar work to new heights. From the scorching solos on tracks like Switchblade and Hurricane to the sprawling showcase that closes the epic Eyes Are Red (Dont Be Afraid), she employs her guitar as a proxy for the bloodletting, matching the intensity of her lyrics with standout moments that provide the best thrills on the album (even the stripped-down acoustics of Run Away with Me deliver the shivers). Additional highlights include the churning rock blast Lights Out -- which sounds like a collision between Radiohead and Silversun Pickups -- and the electric Lightning Bolts, a disco-kissed synth showcase. Kindred spirit Sharon Van Etten also makes an appearance on the title track, a jagged duet between the two vocalist/guitarists that is as intense as it is vulnerable. While their sophomore set was great in its own right, Impossible Weight feels leagues ahead, an introspective maturation that allows for both reflection and catharsis. ~ Neil Z. Yeung