ALBUM REVIEW: Slowly Getting Better – Calling All Captains

There has been a propensity of anaemic pop-punk flooding the ears of those of us who graduated from BLINK-182 and have been looking for something with more bite. Every so often, a band comes along who want to shake up the mould, and this is exactly where CALLING ALL CAPTAINS fit with the release of their debut record Slowly Getting Better.

What is striking about the record is the powerful husky voice of lead vocalist Luc Gauthier, who belts out many a memorable chorus line. His voice oozes personality and draws one in right from the off, with album opener Laurel Canyon acting as a set of intentions for the rest of the record. There is plenty of influence drawn from groups such as THE STORY SO FAR, particularly in the riffs and the song structures on Tailspin which features some excellent melodic writing in the guitar line, whilst Gauthier‘s emotive vocals spill forth on the spiralling effects of mental illness. 

The strength of Slowly Getting Better is the perfect marrying of the emotive lyrics with the hard as nails music. There is a franticness to the musical accompaniment that feels appropriate for the lyrical content, which deals heavily with the agony of being in your twenties. Loving Cup feels soft but with a raw edge that is incredibly welcome, and single Undone is an absolute anthem. For those of us who like the harder side of the Slam Dunk Festival line-up, this is a great listen!

Rating: 8/10

Slowly Getting Better is out now via Rude Records/Equal Vision Records. 

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