June 2nd, 2015 
Drew Caruso 
Artist: Attalus
Album: Into The Sea
Label: Facedown Recprds
Genre: Rock
Into The Sea, the new record from Attalus, was something I thought I didn’t need, but I came to realize it was something I actually really wanted. To paraphrase UTG co-owner Brian Lion, the band’s name elicits thoughts of metalcore and the album’s art could grace the cover of a black metal release, but Into The Sea itself is not metal.
Interestingly coming soon after the 10-year anniversary of The Receiving End Of Sirens’ monumental release Between The Heart And The Synapse, Attalus’ Into The Sea is a wonderful reminder of the heyday of TREOS, Thrice, The Dear Hunter, and their peers, while also revitalizing new life into a sound I figured was long lost from my palate.
Combining vast guitars and vocals, lifted by piano and ambient noise, Attalus create massive atmospheres and worlds through their 16-track concept album. From the soaring “This Ship is Going Down” to the infectious groove of “Sirens,” the band immediately sets the precedent for their varied but collected work. Guitars will buzz in and out, each doing their own thing only to come together to form harmony out of nowhere, showcasing the band’s knack not only for musicianship, but for writing as well.
“Desolate Isle” is a wonderful cut that finds itself bringing the listener in slower than the first two tracks, though the ending is sure to leave a heavy resonance. Though the onslaught of rock has been heavy at this point, “Man O Shipwreck” is a perfectly placed mid-tempo break from the charge Attalus enter the album with.
“Step Out,” a personal favorite of the album, perfectly blends the many genres and influences the band brings to the mix, and the outro is sure to energize anyone listening. “Voices From The Shore,” another favorite, is reminiscent of Emery, TREOS, Thrice, La Dispute and more. It is the perfect blend of decades past, while still being incredibly exciting for the future.
What is especially enthralling about the work as a whole is the band’s ability to create emotions from all varied forms of sound. They have their vast and soaring melodies and guitar lines that reverberate high above their creations, they have their softer moments, with hushed vocals and piano, and then you have the introduction to “The Albatross.” Distant screams echo back and forth to each other to lead the track into development. It is this varied methodology of getting their message across that makes Attalus’ Into The Sea incredibly stirring.
Into The Sea is certainly a dense record–being 16 tracks long at close to 78 minutes–and while the band could have trimmed the fat a bit and still hit as hard as they do (though I’m sure that would have thrown off their concept a bit), each listener will resonate with different chapters, while possibly glossing over others. For anyone getting a little nostalgic this year for TREOS’ anniversary, look no further than Into The Sea, a record that should go onto to have a similar effect come its own 10-year celebration.
SCORE: 8.5/10
Review written by Drew Caruso — Follow him on Twitter.
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Great album!