ALBUM REVIEW: Torch Songs – Ways Away
One of modern rock’s most versatile and experienced bands WAYS AWAY are back with their second full-length Torch Songs. The line-up boasts a long résumé with the members having stints in bands such as STICK TO YOUR GUNS, RACQUET CLUB, and BOYSETSFIRE. All that experience and talent genuinely shines through throughout the entirety of this record.
Starting off with I Got Low we begin with distorted feedback that goes straight into a punk rock intro that is loud and brash. Gruff vocals with smooth backing vocals, an anthemic chorus and catchy lyrics? Ah, we love it. It won’t be long until you find yourself head banging and tapping your foot along. Follow-up track (I’m Not) Laughing With You carries on the punk attitude with a call out of someone’s attitude where they let all the anger come out. It’s the type of track where you want to grab a large stereo and shove it into THAT person’s face, middle finger held high with a smirk on your face.
In a short summary, this album calls out a lot of social ills, frustrating everyday occurrences, and of course the constant question of what’s the point in our existence. A brilliant example of this is Burn Me Out which covers the story of someone breaking down, fearing that nothing’s left for them and there’s no escape. Other stand-outs include Pink Kerosene, a track that plays as a commentary on police brutality and its biased coverage in the media, and The Only Living Boy In LA which talks about the cut-throat reality of trying to survive within the music industry.
It doesn’t mean it’s all serious though; there are plenty of tracks that are just pure rock brilliance that you can easily picture going off in a small, sweaty venue. We’re looking at you Never Mind The Dog and Easy Fix. The band are also great at the softer side of things when it comes to Happy With What I Have, which appears to be your standard rock song covering love and loss in a more tender moment in comparison to the rest of the album.
Torch Songs is an album full of attitude, guitar riffs and beats that will make you want to get up, bounce, headbang, mosh, you name it. All the experience that the members have beautifully comes together to make a brilliant record. It’s clear from the get-go that this a record saying, “Screw the world, here’s what we think!” and that’s exactly the kind of classic punk message that we always like to see and come back to.
Rating: 8/10
Torch Songs is out now via Other People Records.
Like WAYS AWAY on Facebook.