REVIEWS
WRITTEN BY: MEG
Weatherstate appeared on my radar with the release of their 2019 debut LP, “Born A Cynic.” Three years later, the band have returned with their second full-length, titled “Never Better.”
“Low” is a short and simple introductory track, led only by the vocals and acoustic guitar. The dissonant chords and distorted guitars at the end prepare the transition into track two, “Hangar.” The fuzzy, distorted guitars open this track, showing the combination of grunge, punk, and pop-punk that is displayed on this album as the whole. The vocals bring catchy melodies right off the bat, and the riff-driven bridge brings those guitar tones to the forefront before the final chorus. “Normality” is one of the more uptempo tracks on this record, and the melodies on here (especially within its chorus) are some of the most memorable on the whole record.
Speaking of which, the same can be said about one of the singles, “Panic Attack.” The opening riff has been stuck in my head since I initially heard the song upon its release, and the melodies are, once again, catchy from start to finish. The song’s relatable lyrics point toward its central theme of mental health. The lyrics in the chorus (“Write a book on getting by for idle minds, but that’s no way to live life / A wreck, a walking panic attack, unwind and override”) are about dealing with feelings of anxiety upon breaking away from the monotony of living with the same routine. Another lyric that stuck out to me was “I’ve never been so tongue tied / I fabricated my fears like I’m the only one that loathes myself / Six feet too deep but welcome here” from the second verse, which is another line that I feel is a perfect example of this song’s lyrical theme. “Here In My Hell” puts the band’s punk influences on display through the speedy instrumentation, and the drums in particular really stand out on this track as they carry its rhythm. “Pity Lines” swaps the grungier guitars for some cleaner tones as the band slows things down for a few minutes. This song shows a more stripped-back side of the band, putting the guitars and vocals at the center like the opening track did, but more guitars come in later on during the bridge, preparing for a much harder-hitting conclusion. “Down” brings back the guitar tones heard in the first couple of tracks. The bass is more prominent on this one, as are the drums, as both of them help build up the choruses. “Current Dose” brings some more memorable hooks in its chorus (especially over the line “Maybe it’s all generational, and I fear I’ll make it out alone”), and lines such as “home is such an empty place, crowded by the vacant space” touch on how isolating the past few years have felt for many people. This track is a bit similar to “Hangar” in the sense that its bridge also features some strong guitar riffs. “Headstone” is another more laid-back track in comparison to some of the others on this record, mostly driven by acoustic guitar and cleaner electric guitars alongside simple bass parts and drumbeats. In contrast, the chorus is a much bigger section, but for the most part, this one is also a bit more stripped back and brings a nice change of pace to the record. The album’s second-to-last track, “Never Getting Better,” also has a slower tempo, and the lyrics on this one really stuck out to me. Lines like “running away from a life that’s taken its toll” and “beating inside of your brain, but nobody knows” explain how it feels to be dealing with mental illness and wanting to escape from your own thoughts. The song asks “where do you go for peace of mind when you’re alone?” and the main hook of the chorus (“things, they don’t get better in time”) shows someone feeling as though things won’t improve. “Dead Space” closes the album out, and that was undoubtedly the right spot for it on the tracklist, as it perfectly captures both the overall sound and the primary lyrical topics of this album. “I’m desensitized from the same four walls, and humankind / And it gets harder just to know to draw the line” describes the difficulty of being isolated for such a prolonged period of time, while “You don’t really want to go outside alone / A bedroom light, a broken home / It feels weird sometimes, and I won’t lie” continues that conversation, touching on how it feels remaining in the same place for so long. This song does a brilliant job of describing the various emotions that many people all over the world have collectively felt over the past couple of years “Never Getting Better” contains extremely relatable lyrics and unforgettable vocal and instrumental hooks, and these eleven tracks create a tremendous sophomore LP for Weatherstate. "NEVER BETTER" IS AVAILABLE NOW. LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HERE:
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