ALBUM REVIEW: Reflections – Caskets

It would have been easy for CASKETS to make their second album follow the formula that made their debut Lost Souls so successful. But they haven’t. Reflections seems like an appropriate title for an album that is all about looking back. Where Lost Souls was about vocalist Matt Flood‘s personal struggles, this sophomore effort is about the band as a whole, their individual struggles, and how those struggles shaped the band into who they are today. Across ten songs, CASKETS show honesty in an album that sheds the shame in looking back.

Believe kicks things off with a fast-paced guitar-driven riff that powers the song along – a brilliant way to reintroduce CASKETS to the world. There are even some electronic synths used sparingly throughout, hinting at a different side to the band. It’s a strong start, but there is something that seems to be missing from the song to make it stand out from the crowd – it’s good, but maybe a little paint-by-numbers.

Thankfully, this improves as the album goes on, although there are some pitfalls along the way. In The Silence has some fantastic riffs and some nice gang vocals, and it has a nice modern rock sound, but whilst the electronic elements of Too Late give the song an extra boost of individuality, they are soon relegated to the background, which limits their impact.

Despite the occasional mishaps, the album does flow well and the pacing is quite fast, although the middle chunk of the songs continue to struggle for individuality. The album feels a bit lost, but all that changes in the back half as the band start to sound a lot more confident. Guiding Light shows what happens when they let go and have fun. The electronic-rock song is mixed really nicely and it makes sure that both the electronic and rock sounds have their own time to shine. CASKETS sound like they are really enjoying themselves here, and it signals a turning point for the album as the songs that follow are some of the best on it.

Whilst some people might turn their nose up at the electronic rock formula, the last few songs on Reflections prove that it can be done right. CASKETS are clever enough to fall back on the seeds that have been planted during the opening tracks. They show the band at their best, and the last three songs even include some gorgeous sounding violins, which could hint at the musical future of group.

Overall, whilst Reflections is by no means a perfect album, it does manage to save itself in the end. Following up a debut album is no easy feat, and whilst the songs on their sophomore effort don’t always make an impact, the album as a whole is a fun listening experience. Ultimately, CASKETS have made use of the seeds that have been planted throughout the album to produce an enjoyable journey about a band finding themselves.

Rating: 7/10

Reflections is set for release on August 11th via SharpTone Records.

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