I'll pre-warn you all now, this isn't going to be an album review... album ramble is probably more appropriate for what my mind is going to spew all over this webpage. Tonight Alive have been a band I've been excited about for quite a while now and, finally, the Australian quintet are following up on their impressive debut What Are You So Scared Of? with The Other Side.
After their debut there were a lot of options as to where the band could go on their next release - more pop, more punk, straight up rock... heck even an acoustic album after all of those acoustic bonus tracks - but what they've done is perfect their talents and produced what I would call a beautiful blend of heartfelt pop-punk that proves they have a lot more than it takes to be top of the game.
There are tracks like "Lonely Girl" and "The Fire" which lean on heavier music, "Come Home" lends it's hand to a poppier sound as well as title track "The Other Side" and "You Don't Owe Me Anything" showcasing a new side to the band with ballad-esque beauty. None of the tracks have a 'filler' feel which speaks in volumes the level of emotion that has been put into each of the songs, whether that be from powerhouse vocalist Jenna McDougall or the equally talented guys shredding their instruments up where appropriate or taking a softer backseat option.
The most apparent aspect of the record is just how much they've all grown as musicians and unfortunately for them - fortunately for the music - is how much life has screwed them over in the past few years. What Are You So Scared Of? is a fantastic record loaded with meaning, loss and motivation yet on The Other Side you're not just listening to a great song with tattoo ready lyrics but you really feel it this time around. The weight of the last few years, that included Jenna's health struggle with eczema, took it's toll on them and, if this album is anything to go by, for the better. The level of emotion and conviction in every line sung and guitar chord and beat of the drums resonates strongly with not only myself but i'm pretty certain with everyone else who has listened to the incredible job Tonight Alive have done.
For anyone who has ever had the misfortune to be in shitty friendships, relationships or had to battle with their own health this album is for you - and even if you haven't i'm 100% certain you'll love it anyway. It's perfection from the first riff on "The Ocean" right through to last moment of heart wrencher "You Don't Owe Me Anything" which is perhaps where we hear Jenna at her most vulnerable as she belts out raw emotion. She might sing 'don't listen to me the words just sting' but it truly is impossible not to.
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