Arriving on the scene like a character with baggage on Coronation Street, Florida’s, Set It Off, immediately turned heads with their theatrical pop rock debut, Cinematics. Now two years on and settled in the quintet have been keeping a secret that not even nosy Norris knew about, and that secret is Duality. Was it worth keeping?
From the moment the word action is commanded, Duality, kicks into the theatrics. The creepy synths and uplifting melodies of ‘The Haunting‘ are tainted with lyrics that send chills down the spine at the bitter suggestion that a former love will never find anyone better.
From there Set It Off go full throttle, no time for loo or tea breaks, as the My Chemical Romance esque dramatics and over-the-top vocals of Cody Carson swoop in, making ‘N.M.E‘ a gripping listen. Full of colour, the frontmans knack of versatility in his delivery is staggerings. Sassy, angelic, raw yet polished at times, Carson is the main star of the show.
The rest of the band are no slouches, mind. Providing the perfect backdrop for the singer to shine especially on the sheer pop that’s ‘Forever Stuck In Our Youth,’ which, with too many playbacks to the sweet, glossy chorus will put you at risk of a sugar coma.
Set It Off are brazen in their approach to music, not afraid to mimic their influences and exaggerate them to an extreme level. Case in point,’Why Worry,’ which has the mannerisms of Fall Out Boy auditioning for Glee, with the end result being less cringe than it sounds. Guaranteed to get all the bootys shaking, this is feel good music in its purest form.
Elsewhere, melodic orchestral grandiose ditties with words that – paying attention – smack you down with tales of heartbreak and goodbyes can be found. Duality has no filler tracks; every song sounds as though the 5-piece have put every sweat, blood and tear into it, even when they let their inner boy band flourish on the title track they come out sounding like ‘N Sync smothered in RnB, it just gels.
‘Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing‘ is ridiculously extra with its forceful rhythms, nursery rhyme lyrics and elaborate chorus that’ll set the jazz hands in motion while the album would not be complete without a soppy ballad which closer, ‘Miss Mysterious,’ duly delivers.
Dazzlingly dramatic with songs that will elevate to the clouds above the storm gathering below, Duality would be the perfect soundtrack in a Walt Disney fairytale. Put it simply Duality is breathtaking and will leave you beaming from ear to ear. Album of the year? Quite possibly.
