ALBUM REVIEW: Somersaults – deathcrash
Post-rock outfit, DEATHCRASH, have put out their newest record Somersaults. The London based quartet have become renowned over the past few years for creating music that builds different worlds, or, rather in their own words, “building worlds only to crush them”, thanks to their blend of whimsical sounds with emo and alternative influences. DEATHCRASH are unabashed about their sadness on this record, yet they’re also keen to assure us that there is joy to be found on the album too. A profound way to summarise life when you think about it really.
Opening the record is the title track where the first thing we hear are gentle sounds mixed with acoustic guitar strumming that one could compare to a lullaby. Admittedly, the first thirty seconds or so from when the vocals start might leave you unsure as to whether you’re enjoying the song or not as, on the one hand, it sounds pleasant, yet, on the other, the melodramatic lyrics sung might make you grimace. But the true saving grace is when the full bad comes in and creates the perfect soundtrack for a late evening when the weather outside is dark and dreary, before we experience a full circle moment when we’re left once again with the lullaby-like sounds. A pretty metaphor for finding hope within darkness.
As stated, DEATHCRASH are front and centre when it comes to describing sadness, both on a personal level and within broader topics, and it’s when we move into NYC that you find yourself moving away from feeling awkward around the lyrics to now relating heavily. A reflection on oneself you could argue where you want to reject and maybe even ridicule these negative emotions once first exposed, yet as soon as you find yourself relating, you begin to understand and embrace the feelings that surround you. It might be a little too on the nose, but it’s true to real life.
Sound wise, the record tends to stick to one of two styles where it’s either dramatic tracks that are heavily influenced by Midwest emo, or drone-rock songs that place you in a world of 90s alternative rock and grunge. The latter might fall into repetetive territory after a while, we’re looking at you Triumph and Bella, yet it’s still pleasant sounding.
It’s fair to say that it’s with the emo focused tracks that DEATHCRASH truly shine as they allow inner vulnerabilities to come out to the forefront and create vivid scenes one can easily picture and place themselves within. Namely, CMC, thanks to different sound effects, places you in an office as we explore fears and anxieties surrounding a mundane existence and letting life pass you by, and Marie’s Last Dance that, as the title suggests, has you picturing a lone couple dancing on a deserted floor where two people have now found each other after spending so long feeling misunderstood.
An intriguing, if melodramatic, collection of songs that help to explain the many thoughts and worries you might experience day to day.
Rating: 7/10
Somersaults is set for release on February 27th via untitled (recs).
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