The Album:

After a phenomenal release in 2017, Can’t Swim fans were elated at the thought of another hard-hitting record to hit the scene in 2018, and let me tell you- Can’t Swim brought the heat with this one. From the jump, it is heard that this album was going to ride that fine line between pop punk and hardcore, when speaking in terms of musical genre. The album, in general, leans towards the pop punk side, which is characteristic for Can’t Swim; however, the band does include a variety of edgier moments with instrumental intensity, which brings the band closer to that hardcore sound. Marrying the two of these genre sounds is genius, for that specific blurring fits perfectly with the timbre of the vocalist’s voice. As one moves through the album, it is heard that each track drives on a unique groove that helps to establish that song as an individual. Looking at this on a larger scale, this makes for a record that relays music that can stand on its own, in a strong manner, but, as a whole, the album is stronger, together. Another point to mention is that Can’t Swim provides a well-balanced album. To further, when some bands try to blur both the pop punk and hardcore genre of music, it sounds as if the tracks are all clustered because there is so much going on. For this album, Can’t Swim provides ornate instrumental and vocal parts, but they fit into one another perfectly, so that it doesn’t feel overwhelming or suffocating, musically speaking. Furthermore, I am giving this album a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I am giving this album such a score, for it is catchy, musically innovative, and just a solid record from front to back.

 

Top Tracks:

 

“My Queen”, “Not the Way It Was”, and “Hell in a Handbasket”

As one listens to this album, it is hard to pick which tracks are at the forefront because the record is solid from top to bottom. However, a decision had to be made, and this, this is it. These selections stick out among the pack, for they each pack a harder punch in their own way, which helps to give them their own identity. Additional to that, each of these pieces are overly catchy, but not in a cheesy way, which helps to make these tracks stick out all the more. So, please check out the whole album, but if anything- give these selections a spin.

 

The Artwork:

 From first glance, this album cover looks bad ass: point, blank, period. The aesthetic design of this cover alone will bring audience members in because it looks like it’s going to be packed with intense pop punk music, and what more could you want? Having this in mind, listeners will already have a high standard set for the album, and guess what? The band lives up to it and then some. As one listens to the record, it is apparent that Can’t Swim is giving audience members a tradition approach to pop punk music with some aggressive flair intertwined throughout. This approach allows for genre expansion as well as musical variety when moving from track to track. When thinking about this and comparing that to the artwork for the record, it proves that the two are very related. The cover portrays this hard image that is understatedly a cross between pop punk and metal, aesthetically speaking, and that is the exact approach Can’t Swim utilizes on their album. Furthermore, the cover of this album is fantastic, and it elevates the release as a whole.

*”This Too Won’t Pass” was released on November 16^th, 2018 through Pure Noise Records.