Artist: The Saddest Landscape
Album: After The Lights
Genre: Hardcore/Screamo
Label: Top Shelf

On first listen it’s clear why Boston’s The Saddest Landscape are part of the Topshelf Records roster, they have an abrasive post-hardcore sound that doesn’t hold back. It’s also no surprise that their past releases include split EP’s with Pianos Become The Teeth and We Were Skeletons, which should give you a general idea of what to expect with The Saddest Landscape.

Their latest release, After The Lights is a blistering 24 minute tour-de-force of frantic post-hardcore screamo that instantly grabs your attention. “In Love With The Sound” opens the record with delicate guitar plucks before bursting through with rolling, pummeling drums and stabbing guitars. It’s a combination that is instantaneous, and with the bands use of aggressive vocals, it adds to the bands overall energy and sets the tempo for what is to follow.

“This Heals Nothing” carries on the bands relentless, powerful sound that builds and builds, to a breaking point made up of screeching vocals, pounding drums and frantic guitars. It’s brutal, slightly difficult but very engaging.

“The Urge For Permanence” keeps up the momentum with its spazzy guitars, frightening vocals and tons of urgency. Whilst the short moment of quietness is welcomed and gives the track structure, although it’s certainly not completely necessary.

By this point, it’s pretty much evident that this quartet don’t do quiet. It’s not in their vocabulary. Nevertheless “When Everything Seemed To Matter” does offer a soft, textured moment of reflection. In addition, it also shows the bands capability of producing some form of melody to their noise-filled arsenal.

“The Comfort Of Small Defeats” subtly stutters along whilst Andy Maddox passionately screams; “Everything is falling apart,” it’s a lyric that suits the bands apocalyptic sound; unyielding and thoroughly intense. Whereas “Days Of Punched In” is equally as fiery and does not hold back with it’s fast stabbing basslines and chaotic guitars. Whilst their uncompromising vocals adds to the bands lively sound, and the additional desperation delivery adds depth to the track, something that is more apparent in the closing track.

“Desparate Vespers” is more structured with steady, distinctive drums leading the way until a thriving combination of deafening vocals, pounding drums and soaring guitars bring the track home. It’s bold, brash and noisy but (strangely) euphoric and compelling.

If you’re willing to put any presumptions about the “screamo” genre aside, then you’ll find After The Lights a satisfying record that is relentless, lyrically powerful and filled with tons of thriving emotion.

Review written by: Sean Reid
8.5/10

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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