ALBUM REVIEW: History Books – The Gaslight Anthem
Back in 2015, THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM announced that they were going on an indefinite hiatus. Burnt out and disinterested, frontman Brian Fallon and the rest of the band (in his words) had decided it was for the best to take some time out and skip the mid-career slump. Three Fallon solo albums and one 10th anniversary tour for The ‘59 Sound (the band’s incredible 2008 sophomore effort) later, any hopes of a full-scale reunion seemed slim, reinforced by the palpable tension between bandmates on stage. That changed, however, in early 2022; when the band began making cryptic posts on social media, fans started to get their hopes up once more, and this time they were right to do so.
March 25th 2022 saw that all the fans’ wishes hadn’t been in vain – THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM were back, they were touring and, more excitingly, working on new music. On April 28th, we got our first taste of things to come with Positive Charge, the band’s first new music since 2014’s Get Hurt. The heartfelt song is about finding that spark in life and regaining your love of it once more. The song’s driving, dissonant intro is imbued with the same urgency as the band’s early punk days, while retaining that Springsteenian quality that has made this band so special over the years.
The following single, History Books, saw the band finally announce their long awaited sixth album of the same name and, in a full circle moment for the New Jersey quartet, features none other than The Boss (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN) himself – arguably the band’s biggest influence. Both voices compliment the other perfectly, making it hard to imagine any other singer on it. Springsteen (one of the main forces behind the reunion) was never intended to be on the record, until he asked Fallon personally to write him a verse on the record and the rest is history. The song itself is a reflective analysis of the importance of boundaries in personal relationships in life, couched in the band’s trademark blend of punk and heartland rock which elevates it into a hopeful yet melancholic anthem.
Delving deeper into the tracklist, we are treated to an absolute treasure trove of an album. Far from a radical departure sonically, History Books (as the title implies) is utterly indebted to the albums which preceded it. It’s a celebration of all things GASLIGHT, weaving all the best qualities of the band’s previous works into something that feels new and fresh, yet also familiar and comforting, a feat not so easily achieved, though many bands have tried. THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM however, have absolutely nailed the landing. Opener Spider Bites immediately reminds you of why you fell in love with the band to begin with. You’ll find it hard to keep still whilst listening to its infectious melody, punchy guitar riffs and rolling drum beat.
Once we make it through the bombardment of the excellent lead singles, we are treated to the best track on the record; the hauntingly beautiful Michigan, 1975. Here, Fallon showcases some of his finest songwriting and vocal skills throughout the band’s entire discography as he reflects on the despair and self-loathing that permeated Get Hurt from the perspective of him and his ex-wife. Fallon is accompanied throughout the song by a female voice singing in harmony as they both grieve the end of the relationship. The resulting emotions are represented beautifully through apocalyptic imagery like “the sun’s gone forever / it’s never coming back” and “what’s that sound? / the sky is falling.” Eventually, they accept that no single thing is at fault and neither is “the one to blame after all.” It’s a wonderful display of empathy and introspection that will likely go down as one of Fallon’s best works.
The pace picks back up with Little Fires, a fast-paced heartland rock stomper boasting roaring guitars and an infectious chorus, with a subtle vocal cameo from PUP frontman Stephen Babcock. Another stand out is the penultimate track I Live In The Room Above Her, a very taut grunge effort built around a muscular, fuzzy guitar riff reminiscent of 2014’s Stay Vicious, with choruses that ooze heartache and longing as Fallon once again flexes his impressive vocal range. A Lifetime Of Preludes ends the record on a soft, subtle note as Fallon looks at what has been and gone for himself in the past, before deciding that it’s now time to look ahead. A perfect ending to the record and equally perfect prelude to whatever comes next for the band.
History Books is everything you want and more from THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM. It’s a welcome return, full of heart, soul, emotion and maturity that feels like the exact moment you see someone you haven’t seen for a long time, before waxing lyrical with them into the early hours. It’s an album that aims to find joy in the darkest moments, a momentary escape from all that is awful in the world. THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM are truly one of the world’s greatest talents, and it’s great to have them back.
Rating: 9/10
History Books is set for release on October 27th via Rich Mahogany Recordings.
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