Source: Album Artwork
Never has there been a band to rise so elegantly out of the ashes as Set It Off have done this year. 2015 saw the now four-piece wrapped up in a scandal involving their former band mate, and a one point fans were unsure if they’d be able to survive in the aftermath. Remarkably, they’ve done just that. Last week they released their third studio album, Upside Down, which not only showcases the evolution in their sound and talent but also their determination to succeed.
The first track, ‘Something New‘, is the perfect statement in Set It Off proving they can make something incredible come out of such a stressful time in their career. Co-written by All Time Low‘s Alex Gaskarth, Set It Off pull out all the stops in the introducing piece to their new era. Their previous album, Duality, was pop punk through and through, but this new release has the band experimenting with a plethora of genres and pulling every single one off with ease. ‘Uncontainable‘ for example, draws influence from gritty pop, while, unbelievably, the likes of hip-hop and R&B can be heard in the next track, ‘Life Afraid‘.
The titular track has a fairly simple melody in order to focus more on the beautifully written, inspiring lyrics, then ‘Want‘ is the song that pulls on the listener’s heartstrings as it bleeds wild emotion in one four minute bite. Set It Off are evidently incredible songwriters and vocalist Cody Carson conveys every word brilliantly.
‘Hypnotized‘ attempts to pack a punch, but the verses are still musically parched and the out-of-place rapping doesn’t exactly hit it home. ‘Never Know‘ then stands out as one of the only deep cuts on this record. Arguably the least poppy piece, it still exhibits a dynamic chorus that truly grabs your attention, unlike the disheveled lullabies before it.
Overall, Upside Down is certainly a ride, with so much going on throughout the record. Yet there isn’t a song that feels like there’s too much going on; the record as a whole can feel a little disconnected and chaotic, but each individual track is beautifully composed. There’s a diversity of styles overall and it keeps everything fresh, so there aren’t really any lulls when listening to the whole thing.
It does get a little too pop and too saccharine at times; whereas there was more aggression Duality and some fans may still hold that as their favourite. Even so, Upside Down is bold and diverse. It’s an interesting experience for anyone to check out, whatever style of music you prefer.
