Fray drops stunted moments of silence, cutting through the heaviness of the chorus, which almost feels like musical edging. There’s even the personal touch of a recorded voicemail and lyrics like ‘you always felt like home’, it’s one that will hit hard for those working through loss. Sober’s lyrical melody feels almost nostalgic, yet with a hellish breakdown and walking guitar riff, it brings us back to the current. The record’s finale, Closure, gives just that and is the only song where they really hit the brakes after going full-speed ahead prior to this, with piano and lo-fi beats.
Reaching Hypercritical explores grief, addiction and mental health through attacking breakdowns and sludgy soundscapes. Brandon is at home as lead vocalist here, but instrumentally, it’s relatively samey. If you believe that if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, this ones for you, but some structural experimentation could really pay off next time with this band's capabilities.
Verdict: 3/5
For fans of: Hands Like Houses, Crown The Empire, Too Close To Touch
Reaching Hypercritical is released on July 22 via Rise