November 3rd, 2011 
James Shotwell 
Artist: Counterparts
Album: The Current Will Carry Us
Genre: Melodic Hardcore
Label: Victory Records
About six months ago, I moved back to DC from Boston, I love both those cities with all my heart, I grew up in DC, and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of living here, but I still miss Boston everyday; I miss the delightfully trashy house parties in Allston, I miss getting coffee from Dunks everyday, I don’t miss the weather at all, or trying to find parking, but above all that, I miss the music scene. We have a few notable bands in the DC area, but none of them can compare to the heroes up in Massachusetts – TREOS, Therefore I Am, A Loss For Words, Vanna, Four Year Strong – the list never really ends. And of course, the passion found in the local bands all over New England is unbelievable, and I’m afraid I’ll never really find a replacement down here. As a result of this detachment from such a passionate music scene, I’m starting to feel a bit jaded about the whole thing; I’m a bit short on inspiration these days. Don’t get me wrong, I still love music the same way I always have, and there have been a lot of albums released lately that are nothing short of fantastic. What I’m missing is a short of intangible factor that inspires me, and gets me excited about music again; something that makes me want to pick up my guitar, and actually do something. And that is precisely what I found in Counterparts new album, The Current Will Carry Us . Technically speaking, the new Counterparts album isn’t revolutionary or profound in any particular way, but it’s impressive in all the right ways.
Musically speaking, I have never been a by the books type of guy, I appreciate music as an outlet for expression, more than a showcase of technical prowess, and while I certainly appreciate the technical aspect, and can see how that can be an important factor to some people, that just isn’t what music means to me. And apparently Counterparts follow that same Ethos, their music is gritty and passionate, injected with some extremely well placed melodies, which serve to contrast the grime the fuels most of the songs on The Current Will Carry Us. Songs like “The Constant” and “MMVII” are perfect examples of the juxtaposition between dirty, distorted rhythms and vocals, paired with high pitched cleaner leads, creating a sound reminiscent of old post-hardcore. And it’s that exact sort of soundscape that makes Counterparts so interesting, the songs are full of texture and contrast, and yet somehow, all the pieces come together in perfect harmony; the leads manage to stand out so much from the rhythm, and yet they never feel disjointed. And of course, there are also a couple songs thrown in like “Thank God” that are more or less just a constant beatdown, just an excellent old school hardcore song, the leads never feel absent, and the song can stand perfectly on it’s own; at no point does it feel like simply filler.
This is just the sort of album I needed, it isn’t pretentious, and at no point does it attempt to be something it’s not, it’s just good honesty music, from a great band. The Current Will Carry Us is the kind of album that the music industry needs every once in awhile, that serves to remind people like me why they got into this sort of thing to begin with. Of course, I can’t say that Counterparts are going to go on to redefine the industry, or start a new musical movement, but this album is impossible to ignore, and the music is good in a way that talent alone can’t create, there is much more to it than that, and that’s what makes this album special.
SCORE: 8/10
Reviewed by: Mike Hogan
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