ALBUM REVIEW: Pacifica – Adventurer

When a certain pop-punk band named after a obtuse character from The Simpsons decided to fall off a cliff in terms of creativity, there was a gap in the market for a band to continue the trajectory they were on, albeit to better it. Enter ADVENTURER, with their sophomore album Pacifica. For all those who like their screamy post-hardcore with a healthy dose of pop-punk thrown into the mix (with definite emphasis on the punk), this is the album for you.

This summation does not do ADVENTURER credit. What they have produced is a wonderfully musical record, diverse in dynamics and rich in compositional skill. Album opener Voices Over Infinite Darkness sets out the band’s intentions early, showcasing a wide variety of moods and tonal shifts in the first minute of the song. A sublime soaring chorus gives way to a savage middle section, before the closing section shows off the dexterity of the group. In terms of summing up your album in one song, Voices Over Infinite Darkness does this superbly.

Telepathy Club picks up the pace, showing off the band’s love of hardcore with a discordant lead guitar line which works against the melodic verse, leading into a fantastic chorus. The lead guitar work throughout this track is really diverse, alternating between the aforementioned hardcore squeals and a more relaxed and noodley style. Your Favorite Mistake contains a pop punk chorus that every modern day band of that ilk should be insanely jealous of, and Vicious Circle shows off the vocal talents of Jeff Masterson, who should be commended for an excellent performance throughout the record. A particular highlight is Solstice, where the band really flex their technical muscles, as this song clearly requires some very advanced playing, both instrumentally and vocally. The resultant composition is dexterous and flows naturally.

The level of musical dexterity across Pacifica is really refreshing. There is a clear understanding of dynamics and composition, and they know when to use the right techniques at the right moment. An example would be Afterlife, where it isn’t immediately obvious when screams are going to be unleashed, but when they are, it really highlights the music, breaking up the flow of the song and allowing the huge melodic chorus that follows to really soar. This fluid style of performance makes Pacifica a really exciting listen.

This album is for those of us who spent their youth wishing there was a band who would perfectly blend a masterful vocal performance with hardcore tinged riffing and screams, and in ADVENTURER we might have finally found the band who are capable of pulling this off. An absolute must listen for all of us who were playing Burnout 3 in 2005 and wanted to hear a band that would take all the aspects of the soundtrack to that game and put it into their music.

Rating: 9/10

Pacifica is out now via Esque Records.

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