Album Review: Silverstein – Dead Reflection

Silverstein have now been with us for 17 years, despite the passing of the years this is a band that always retained their commitment to the spirit of their punk and hardcore roots, and now they have released their eighth full length, Dead Reflection, which came out on the 14th July via Rise Records and New Damage Records. Their latest release follows on from 2015’s I Am Alive In Everything I Touch and Dead Reflection is an album that indicates that Silverstein still have plenty of life left in them, despite approaching the end of their second decade together.

Last Looks kicks things off in full blooded post hardcore rush that continues throughout Dead Reflection, but this isn’t just an relentless assault, the album contains melody that is perfectly balanced against the intense and brooding soundtrack. Tracks such as the heartfelt Mirror Box, Secret’s Safe and the tortured closer Wake Up bring the pace down, whilst The Afterglow take things closer to their roots, but for the most part Dead Reflection is an authentic album of modern post hardcore that demonstrates that Silverstein aren’t content to carry on recreating the past and are determined to continue pressing forward.

Dead Reflection is an album that’s informed by personal loss and it carries a very real sense of darkness and isolation, but having said that it is not an album that allows itself to wallow in self pity and self doubt, Silverstein‘s latest album comes across as a redemptive and cathartic release that is written from a deeply personal perspective, and despite the dark subject matter it feels like this an album that has given the band a new lease of life. For those who already love Silverstein this will be an essential release, and for me Dead Reflection seems to be a positive and logical step forward for the band.

You can order Dead Reflection via Rise Records (US) here and New Damage Records (CAN) here