ALBUM REVIEW: Spiral In A Straight Line – Touché Amoré
Post-hardcore darlings TOUCHÉ AMORÉ are back with their first album since 2020’s excellent record, Lament. Spiral In A Straight Line marks their sixth studio album and continues their terrific run of albums that shows just why they’re a band held in high regard. With 2024 being such a strong year for music releases, Spiral In A Straight Line adds to the impressive smorgasbord of new music that we’ve been able to indulge in throughout the year.
Up first on the album is the track Nobody’s. It’s a song that launches us into the fray instantly with a delightfully melodic hardcore sound. One of the aspects that makes this album so endearing is it has a rough around the edge style about it which compliments the band’s DIY attitude to their music. Frontman Jeremy Bolm’s vocals are instantly recognisable, full of heart with a hint of sorrow, it’s a track that packs an emotional punch as it tackles themes of trying to move forward whilst feeling that everything is falling down around you.
Disasters is a circle pit inducing song that will have crowds moving in absolutely no time. Only two songs in and everything is turned up to eleven, showing that TOUCHÉ AMORÉ are still at the top of their game as they continue to pour out quality material for us. Following on is Hal Ashby which is a particular highlight in an album full of them. This track in particular adopts an anthemic style of music whilst remaining faithful to the hardcore roots of the band, it wouldn’t feel out of place one bit in either a small sweaty room or a giant arena.
Taking a moment to slow proceedings down a little, the track Force Of Habit is a brooding and emotional track. The instrumental side of this song has an almost sinister feel to it that brings the feels along with it as it tackles the themes of not being able to let go and how that can affect those around you. It builds and builds throughout before reaching an emotional crescendo with Bolm’s heartbreaking vocals adding to the excellence of the track. Instantly, the album goes back up to 100mph with the follow up track, Mezzanine. One of the heavier tracks on the album, the frenetic drumming style and swirling guitars conjure a bonafide hardcore anthem which once again compliment the vocals perfectly before it ends in a huge sing a long which is going to be incredibly cathartic live.
Introduced by spectral vocals, Altitude once again brings the proceedings to a slower pace but still maintains a heavy aspect to it. It’s a track that once more does its best to give you an emotional gut. Just beneath its cacophony of sound lies the subtle spectral vocals once more that prop up this track throughout which works superbly along with the rest of the song. Give Routine is maybe one of the more melodic and has a more hopeful sound to it throughout as it works almost as a calm before the storm that is Finalist. A track that is the absolute highlight of the album, Finalist is the perfect TOUCHÉ AMORÉ song. It’s heavy, raucous and sees the band in the form of their lives. The lyrics feel desperate and anxious but it’s one hell of a ride as it feels like an album closer despite there being three songs left.
Subversion (Brand New Love) almost feels like it’s serving as an epilogue to the album. Featuring Lou Barlow of DIONOSAUR JR, it’s the first of two songs left on the album to feature guest singers. Barlow slides right into this song as his soft vocal style works as a perfect contrast to Bolm’s scratchy vocals. Glue once again picks up the pace, serving as the penultimate track of the record and takes us by the hand as we approach our journeys end with Spiral In A Straight Line. Yet another song that has an emotional impact yet it doesn’t take anything away from the other tender moments of the record as Bolm’s regretful vocals lament the breaking up of a relationship, an aspect of life that we can all relate to.
Goodbye For Now is our finale and brings the album’s proceedings to a hugely satisfying close. Featuring the wonderful Julien Baker (boygenius) as a guest singer, whose cameo brings in a lovely tender moment at the back part of the album. Her soft delivery is a beautiful moment in the song as she builds up to an excellent vocal climax. Once again Bolm’s vocals have the perfect foil as her haunting vocals offer a sumptuous conflict between both singers’ vocal styles. It’s a great ending to the record and manages to stick the landing perfectly.
Spiral In A Straight Line is hands down one of this year’s best releases. It’s by no means a cheerful listening but it most definitely is a cathartic one. TOUCHÉ AMORÉ have once again shown us why they have garnered so much respect in recent years as they continue to deliver excellent hardcore anthems that, most importantly, we’re able to relate to. It allows us and the band to be vulnerable together and shows us there is no harm in being so. Make sure when you have it on, it’s as loud as possible, you’d be a fool to miss out on this one.
Rating: 9/10
Spiral In A Straight Line is out now via Rise Records.
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