Band: Save Your Breath
Release: There Used To Be A Place For Us
Release Date: 7/10/13
Save Your Breath are back with their second full length album ‘There Used To Be A Place For Us’. It’s kept to the bands pop-punk-ish reputation, with sounds comparable to such punk bands as New Found Glory and The Ataris. Although pop-punk initially seems to be the correct term to define this young band, there is something rockier about them than others you’d associate with the genre, whether it’s the gravel in vocalist Kristian’s voice, or the intensity of the guitar, it works.
Of course, like any good album, not all songs can be placed under the same blanket. The opening track, ‘Lessons’ starts off with a hard hitting guitar riff and unusual drum rhythm. When the vocals kick in there is a similarity to Rise Against which mixes with the heavy punk tones of The Offspring at the start of the chorus. This is a very promising track, encouraging any listener to stick with this album.
The next couple of tracks follow in the same vein, letting you know what this band is really about. By the fourth track, ‘Harrow Road’, we see a glimmer of variety with lighter guitar tracks, although they stay true to the band and don’t lead us far astray.
The next track, ‘Abandon’ is perhaps one of the best tracks on the album, sitting comfortably between heavy punk and softer rock tones. The song itself has moments of both that flow together well, before finishing abruptly, instead of fading out and ruining the punk aesthetic.
‘Skin And Bones’ returns to the mellow side, building gradually. Starting with just the drums; the guitar and vocals slowly layer on until the still powerful chorus. There is an emotional side to this track that seems to have been missing from the album so far.
The next few songs are a comforting combination of what we have seen so far. The opening of the penultimate song, ‘Airs & Graces’ seems a bit too slow to fit with the rest of the album, but stick with it, it does build up. Unlike the closing track which indulges in 3 minutes and 18 seconds of lacklustre music that seems very out of touch with every other song in this collection. And it really is a shame, because up until now, this has been a very strong album, comparing them with some well respected bands in their genre.
If ‘There Used To Be A Place For Us’ had a better title/closing track, then it would be an amazing album. As it is, the ending is a bit of a let down, and doesn’t leave you with the great impression Save Your Breath deserves.
7/10
Reviewer: Jenna Young
