ALBUM REVIEW: Moments Before The Wind – Free Throw

Moments Before The Wind was born out of an extremely tumultuous time for FREE THROW vocalist Cory Castro. Dealing with the ending of a long-term relationship and finding out he was going to be a father, the album holds self-reflection at its core. It was also recorded in two sessions that were split across touring stints, and that sense of immediacy in expression is crucial to the album’s conception. 

This immediacy is a double edged sword for FREE THROW. Some tracks shine in the sense of an outburst, a cathartic release and an authentic outpouring of emotion, but others feel like they could have done with a bit more time to form. The result is an album that for the most part, plays it by the book as far as FREE THROW’s sound goes, and in brief moments, strikes on some truly emotional high points. 

Missing No. introduces the album and all you can expect from it: big hooks and an emphasis on the emotional story at its heart. These hooks find roots in Mike Nolan’s Long Weekend which bounces along. These are perfectly solid tracks that display what FREE THROW can do well, but you can’t help but want more from them. The album thematically appears to split in half reflecting its nature of creation, with The Need For A Post-Credits Scene hitting like a classic end to an A side growing out of a building melody. But the album also very much feels like a product of its creation, an outburst, a quick release to get it off their chests.

When this works, it sharply compounds the album’s emotional undercurrent. Tracks like Floaroma Town and Deviancy offer sonic quirks that make the tracks feel like genuine hits to the heart. The former leans into jangle pop with an airy feeling that is truly unique amidst the album’s noodling guitars and bigger, pop-punk leaning sound. The latter has a grittier feeling with its distorted vocals and explosive drums, and both songs stand as high points on the album for their sense of emotional release that is propelled by the left field directions they take. 

But a lot of the time it also finds FREE THROW playing quite safe. Story focused songwriting is what they do best, and it is perfectly solid on Moments Before The Wind, but with most tracks leaning into a brighter, poppier sound it feels like they can never quite reach a grit beneath what they’re saying. It’s the more subtle touches that offer the most interest. On tracks like For Those Who Come After and Hero’s Grave you’ll find poignant lyrical turns of phrase, and some distinctive riffs that carry the emotional weight beneath it.

For all that it endeavours to encapsulate emotionally, Moments Before The Wind only occasionally truly stops you in your tracks and hits at your heart. There are moments where FREE THROW are able to cut through and pierce you with the kind of emotional poignancy that the album seeks to explore. There’s also enough to enjoy in the line of some polished pop-punk leaning emo. It doesn’t break new ground, but that’s not to say it’s still not a solid outing from FREE THROW.

Rating: 6/10

Moments Before The Wind is set for release on March 27th via Wax Bodega. 

Like FREE THROW on Facebook.