It was a little over two years ago that Stick To Your Guns released their final record with Sumerian Records, the renowned Disobedient. But now the Orange County punks are back with their brand new album True View and it was well worth the wait!
First of all, any indication that STYG would be easing off with this record is far from the truth. True View has all the fury and tenacity that its predecessor had and more, you can physically feel the power and force that has been put into this record, the emotional weight of the subject in focus and as always STYG's political angst.
I mean, helloooooooo, the album is called True View! Clearly a nod to the growing realisation, worldwide, that we as people have been lied to, misguided and tricked into believing half-truths and falsities. And I feel that anger too, albeit across the pond from the Californian posse, here in Britain we're not exactly having the best time politically either and have been lied to constantly but that's s talk for another time.
Musically the album isn't massively different from Disobedient, but that is by NO means a negative! It still holds all the necessary beatdowns and heart pumping riffs you'd expect but what shouts out to me is the arrangement and production of the album. Keeping songs under 3:30 (ok it's a hardcore album, it's expected) but I can't remember the last time an album flowed so well that I was eight tracks deep without realising. And the production, each and every song, every instrument sounds incredible!!
Finally a nod to Jesse on his lyrical honesty within this record, not that any Stick To Your Guns record has lacked honesty in its intentions, but particularly with True View I think that he's opened himself up impressively. Even now, people still seem to underestimate what it takes to put your heart and mind down on paper, turn it into music and then to release that to the world. It takes so much out of you but while it can be a tough experience, I'm sure Jesse would agree that these processes and simply being and playing in a band is one of, if not the best, kind of catharsis.
The scores are in, whistle's gone, but who's come out on top?
Album #6 from the OC hardcore Kings: 8/10
Top picks: 3 Feet From Peace, Doomed By You, The Reach For Me: "Forgiveness Of Self"
True View was released October 13th 2017 via Pure Noise Records:
Enjoy my review of True View? Why not check out my views on its senior, Disobedient?
Comments
Post a Comment