ALBUM REVIEW: Take Back The Night – Starbenders

The launch into an artist’s dark side can be curious to explore, but one that should be taken with great care. It’s the expression of a side within themselves that many people are usually uncomfortable sharing, but can find comfort in when done well, especially within their art. This is what glam rock band STARBENDERS aim to do with their third record, Take Back The Night, as they dive into darker themes that come from their respective pasts involving substance abuse, mental health, and how they all progressed through it all. As the four-piece tackle dark lyricism mixed with a heavier glam sound, does the album create a relatable and earnest experience from beginning to end?

Whilst remaining honest by accentuating the darkness with the tone of their instrumentation, STARBENDERS deliver an exceptional record that cuts deep with its deep cuts and enchants with their singles as well. Many songs take inspiration from the gothic sounds and styles, as found in Sex, Blood Moon, If You Need It and Midnight, whilst also staying true to their hard glam rock roots. We’re Not OK takes the darkest route by far, with its heavy instrumentation and tone, growing with a slow build as vocalist Kimi Shelter describes their struggle with mental illness, especially from a young age. It’s raw and fantastically written and performed, and the gothic sounds amplify the lyrics sung and showcase the talent of the band and how they weave it through their incredible instrumentation. 

Partnered with the gothic songs are the glam rock songs, which add a lighter sound to the album to bring everything into balance, especially within the instrumentation and lyricism. The band create a whimsical tone that enchants the listener through intricate synth tones and beautiful guitar riffs. For example, Seven White Horses paints a romantic tale that’s sudden and addictive but magical all the same, accompanied by a jangly motif that accentuates the sound to deliver simple but effective lyrics. Cherry Wine also welcomes in this different tone, entrancing the listener with its effective instrumentation that’s perfect for long road trips, accompanied by incredibly relatable and deep lyrics about moving on and accepting yourself after a horrible relationship. Even their cover of Poison, whilst keeping up with the original glam tone, is still recognisable as STARBENDERS and in fact enhances the album as opposed to detracting from it. It’s a wonderful cover that keeps up with both the gothic and glam tones and delivers further dark lyrics that keep within the theming of the record. 

Overall, Take Back The Night combines the band’s established glam rock sound with a new darker take that elevates them to a level that explores many dark themes and topics in a relatable and heartfelt manner that only STARBENDERS could deliver on. Each topic is handled with care whilst also delivered in a captivating way that shows a raw side of the band that any listener could resonate with, connecting them to each of the members who each put a piece of their past into the music. It’s human, and an album that shares these themes and topics earnestly, guided by gorgeously written music that people will return to again and again. 

Rating: 9/10

Take Back The Night is set for release on September 22nd via Sumerian Records.

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