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Wither Away - I Won't Find Hope In You - Album Review

Wither Away - I Won't Find Hope In You - Album Review

Wither Away - I Won’t Find Hope In You - Independent

Track List:

  1. April (Spring Is Coming)

  2. Kagune (Ruin Me)

  3. Shadow Form

  4. I Won’t Find Hope In You (Feat. Ricky Armellino of HAWK) - Single

  5. The Town Where Only I Am Missing

  6. Persona (Feat. Hotel Books)

  7. Dark Room

  8. Cherish Your Friends - Single

  9. Stigmatized

  10. Your Name.

After four years, Reading PA's Wither Away has returned with an ambitious follow-up to their debut EP. This time, they demand to be heard, and I recommend you listen. 

Right away, an interesting note when it comes to the visual representation of Wither Away, in most cases since the start of the band, a pagoda has been a strong structure utilized in their first singles to their debut EP 'The Words We Live By, The Actions We Don't Take.' But now, on the cover of 'I Won't Find Hope In You,' the pagoda is set ablaze. Is it now a symbol of the desecration of inner peace, the destruction of what we believe is valuable in this world, or destroying that part of you that was holding you back? 

It's challenging to put Wither Away into a musical category because they utilize multiple genres very well. At times, there are flashes of an emo-rock band, melodic post-hardcore, or even alternative rock. But what does it all really mean? Really, it means they're comfortable making whatever music they want, and it shows in IWFHIY. From the instrumentation moving from melodic to aggressive to the clean (singing) vocals to out of nowhere uncleans (screams), Wither Away keeps you on your toes and, more importantly, keeps your attention. JJ's vocals are strong while showing weakness in the storyline while weaving multiple vocal disciplines into a cohesive story. The instrumentation is dynamic, drives when needed, and creates an atmosphere integral to making that comprehension through the album.

Tracks range from discussions, almost conversations asking questions of depression, religion, and does belonging even exist? The fourth wall is even broken in the track 'I Won't Find Hope In You' as you're told, "I wish that I was only writing lyrics when I said that I don't like having fun. Depressed but now I see there's beauty in this melody". I recommend listening to the album while reading the lyrics to capture any nuances that may have been missed.

In the track' Stigmatized,' JJ repeats lines towards the end of the track with the solo backing of guitar-only in a melodic fashion. More instruments join in, and JJ's vocals become more pleading and emotional. He screams, "You're dead to me," his last line and almost every other band would kick everything into high gear to either restart the chorus or get one more semi-breakdown squeezed in, but Wither Away doesn't, and instead, play out more melodically and calm. That's confidence in one's musical direction. 

That's one of the keys to IWFHIY, confidence. In every facet, Wither Away has made an engrossing album built like the pagoda with confidence. Confidence in their musical ability to draw you in, keep you on your toes, create an atmosphere, and tell a compelling story.

Not only did Ricky Armellino (HAWK, Ice Nine Kills) mix and produce the album (a fantastic job of keeping tone and ambiance), but he also added his featuring abilities, as did Hotel Books. Both features add an extra layer to the dynamics of IWFHIY and fit in nicely. The only things that ever felt out of place were small autotuned pop flourishes in the final track 'Your Name.'. It's nothing that would ruin the track; it just feels out of place with the tone of the rest of the album.

I have been a fan of Wither Away since their debut EP, but they added another dimension to their abilities with 'I Won't Find Hope In You.' The album's flow is precise, layered, and the balance of singing and screaming is unrivaled. You'll never feel like you're worn out or following the same template set by others. The band has genuinely made something personal of their own and shared it with an audience.

Wither Away has done anything but, with their new full-length release, 'I Won't Find Hope In You.' Make sure you listen and support them. 

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Ian Hates Boston Manor's 'Welcome to the Neighbourhood'

Ian Hates Boston Manor's 'Welcome to the Neighbourhood'

Boston Manor - Welcome To The Neighbourhood

Pure Noise Records

13 tracks (1 Interlude)

Pop-punk has been on an upswing for the last few years with mainstays and newcomers alike, but, whenever the scene goes through a revamped pop-punk cycle, the music can start to sound very similar. It becomes harder to differentiate yourself from the pack and “make your mark”. Luckily for all of us, there’s Blackpool’s Boston Manor.

Now, saying, Boston Manor, fits comfortably into only the pop-punk genre would be doing them a disservice. They’ve always been good at mixing genres like post-hardcore, pop-rock, and maybe even some emo, to form a really great amalgamation in the "pop-punk" scene. For more reference, you can always go back and listen to their breakthrough debut full-length, ‘Be Nothing’ out on Pure Noise Records. Of course, we’re not here to talk about ‘Be Nothing’ necessarily, but it serves as a great precursor to what ‘Welcome to the Neighbourhood’ is.

And that brings us to ‘Welcome to the Neighbourhood’, the sophomore full-length release from Boston Manor, through Pure Noise Records. I have to admit, I have been looking forward to this album since I first heard ‘Be Nothing’ and saw the lads (I’ll use the British term, why not?) at a small, cluttered, art gallery playing alongside Rarity, Broadside, and Like Pacific. A great mix of post-hardcore, emo, and pop-punk all under one art-lined roof. It was my first experience of Boston Manor live, but it definitely won't be my last.

The album begins with the title track as the intro, but once you hear the ominous tone that’s set from the start, you realize the song is more of a warning than a welcome. Tone plays a big role in WTTN, often haunting intros lead to catchy choruses, with the appearance of some unclean vocals from time to time to keep the listener on their toes. There’s even the semblance of some breakdowns, although lighter than a metalcore band, they’ll no doubt get the crowds moving (see ‘Flowers In Your Dustbin’) if they weren't already.  

Throughout the album, Boston Manor keep you guessing as they weave in and out of bitterness and radio-friendly addictiveness. You’ll find yourself bouncing around and shaking your shoulders even though you know the lyrics aren’t necessarily for body-moving joy. But, that doesn’t seem to matter as you navigate through the album, because each track leads you deeper into this bouncy ominous world Boston Manor has created.

It might sound strange to some, but I often heard some The Amity Affliction-esque melodies in ‘Be Nothing’, so in WTTN, I’ll continue the strangeness and say that in certain tracks you can hear Marilyn Manson-esque and Bring Me The Horizon-esque melodies (see ‘Funeral Party’ for a prime example). Not exactly what you’d expect in a pop-punk album, but that’s what will keep Boston Manor relevant in a sea of the similar.

WTTN is fast paced at times, bold, catchy (of course), and it keeps your attention with the storyline it creates because, for one, it's different than anything you've heard. If your heart isn't out of your chest by the final track it certainly will be as the semi-acoustic, epic sounding, 'The Day I Ruined Your Life' ends with a chorus of repeating shouts of "The day that I ruin your life" to the final guitar pick.

In music, people often bring up that the second album for a band makes or break them. I don’t necessarily agree with that statement in all cases, but if it is true, then Boston Manor have cemented themselves as a must-hear band with ‘Welcome to the Neighbourhood’. It’s one of the most compelling “pop-punk” albums of 2018 and one that begs to be dissected over and over again, and at this time in music, that's the highest compliment you can achieve.