Taking Back Sunday – Tidal Wave

Tidal Wave is Taking Back Sunday‘s seventh album, while most of their peers have either broken up, faded away or reunited to capitalize on the emo scene’s wildfire revival, Taking Back Sunday have been an ever present on the scene, they’ve consistently ploughed their own furrow and continued to reinvent themselves regardless of passing trends and tastes. Tidal Wave appears to represent yet another turning point in the band’s history, Taking Back Sunday have regularly adopted fresh approaches and styles since their inception, whilst in this past these haven’t always hit the spot this latest album is one that appears to have breathed new life into the band.

Opening number, Death Wolf, takes it time getting going, a full minute of gradual atmospheric build up takes place before the song is jump started, but it’s worth the wait as this it is a fine slice of polished emo tinged punk that boasts some epic riffs. However, there is no such dramatic introduction or polish with the album’s title track, it kicks in and is a short sharp punchy punk number featuring machine gun dreaming and a chorus that just hooks you into the song. Tidal Wave continues to build layers and textures by utilising various tempos and styles, all the while maintaining an impressive level of energy, that is until you hit the half way mark when the album screeches almost to a halt with the introspective I Felt It Too, for me this track just interrupted the flow of the album and it seems to be at odds with the other eleven tracks. Any worries you might have had following this number are dispelled as the second half of the album mirrors the approach of the first half dozen tracks with a variety of styles, but this time there is no sudden halt to the proceedings, whilst the album does end on a slow burner, the epic I’ll Find A Way To Make It What You Want, it is one that fits in with the feel of the album and is a fine ending to an impressive album.

For me Tidal Wave‘s title track is the high point, but that is such a good song that isn’t in anyway a slur on the rest of the album, if you’re a fan of Taking Back Sunday you will probably have already ordered this, in fact by the time this review appears you’ve probably had it playing on repeat for a few days. One of the factors that marks this out from Taking Back Sunday‘s back catalogue is the fact that was written in the studio whilst they were recording it, rather than the album being crafted and overly anguished over beforehand. I think this approach brings a freshness and new found enthusiasm to their sound, whether this is their best album will be a subject of some debate, but what Tidal Wave definitely does bring is a new direction, and it’s one that seems to have re-energised a band that has been with us for almost two decades.

You can order Tidal Wave here