Much of the record can be read in terms of the band's journey, as they now find themselves independent from the music machine. That gives them complete control over their music, as how we get to engage with it. That shift can absolutely feel like the hope and momentum of a career has died, but the people most dedicated to music are able to find the freedom of creation a liberating experience. That is what Against The Current have done, making a record that is better written and produced than a huge swath of what the label system gives to us every year.
When "Fortune Favors The Brave" opens the album, it's with bouncing guitars that crush with every hit. They pull from bits of radio rock, emo, and pop/punk, with hints of Deftones-esque groove lurking just under the surface. Everything kicks up a notch when Chrissy Costanza begins singing. Her voice is direct and sharp, cutting through the heavy production whether she is crooning a low rumble or scraping her higher registers. When she opens her lungs on the chorus of "Ashes To Glory", I'm reminded of Yours Truly's early work for the way they are able to blend light and dark so effectively. The music is a rolling wave that crashes into us, while her voice is the light we see when drowning that shows us where to fight for breath.
That metaphor is echoed in "The Moth", where Chrissy sings about being trapped under the waves of life, unable to resist the urge to get close to the very thing that is so dangerous. It's an entirely human experience to know better, but not be able to take your own advice. Those mental gymnastics are one of the reasons we engage with art, because it is through things like songwriting that we are able to unknot some of the threads that confuse us so. Whether we know anyone is listening or not, being able to give voice to those demons is the first step toward figuring out their weaknesses.
Across a tight ten songs and thirty-three minutes, Against The current never lets up. Every song is finely crafted for maximum impact, delivering melodies that will create communal experiences when sung on stage. There is a lot of music in this style that rides the cliches so hard they slough off our memories as soon as we hear it. Against The current is one of the bands that does it so well, and so honestly, that is never a concern. Chrissy's passion shines through, and the band plays with the power needed to drive these songs home.
We recently celebrated the fortieth anniversary of Slayer's "Reign In Blood", which I bring up because there was a lesson learned from that album Against The Current execute to perfection. A record that concentrates its punches without ever missing is the kind we can listen to repeatedly, and those are the ones that have the chance to make the most lasting impact. The first listen is charming, the next a bit more, and eventually we see the heart behind the smile. "Till Death & Back" doesn't need to be any longer, because it trades the initial knockout shot for the experience of wearing us down with body blows.
As the music business continues to evolve, the worst thing about it also happens to be the best thing; bands are able to make music outside the confines of the system. Sometimes that inundates us with music we never needed to hear, but sometimes it gives bands a chance to show that greatness can slip through the cracks. Against The Current is one of those gems that shines even brighter now that they aren't getting buried in a pile of other stones.
"Till Death & Back" was worth the trek. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite albums of the year.
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