Touche Amore Is Survived By

When Touche Amore burst onto the hardcore scene with 2009's ...To the Beat of a Dead Horse, it was sometimes difficult to figure out exactly what to make of them. They mixed hard-hitting hardcore with more ethereal and contrasting post-hardcore elements, a raw punk rock quality, and lyrical content that was so unabashedly personal and vulnerable that singer Jeremy Bolm became somewhat of an icon for a new young and alienated generation. Further solidified by their follow-up LP, Parting the Seas Between Brightness and Me, this group of Southern Californians continued to hone their unique brand of concise, honest, and intense music, which garnered even more favorable reviews and a seemingly ever-increasing fan base. With their newest album, Is Survived By, Touche Amore is carrying the weight of lofty expectations, from critics and fans alike, to deliver the same style of refined but sincere post-hardcore that had brought them such success and acclaim in the past. The opening track, "Just Exist" helps to reassure that despite their growing popularity, the group has not abandoned the gripping, emotionally charged, and confrontational music for which they have become known. One characteristic that sets this record apart from its predecessors is the depth and involvement of the song writing. While not completely abandoning the sonic hit-and-run style that have dominated their past releases, many of the songs on this record, including "To Write Content" and "Harbor," hover around the three minute mark and demonstrate the most complex and holistic approach that Touche Amore have demonstrated thus far. It may not be strictly labeled a criticism given Bolm's signature style of deeply private writing, but the incessant and ever-present use of the personal pronoun ‘I' becomes increasingly distracting as the first half of the album wears on. It may seem like an odd complaint given that Touche Amore is renowned for their confessional lyrics, but tracks like "Anyone/Anything" and "Social Caterpillar" suffer from this lack of grammatical diversity to such an extent as to noticeably detract from otherwise impressive songs. As the album progresses, Is Survived By really begins reveal itself as a more ambitious albeit imperfect record. "Harbor" and "Social Caterpillar" demonstrate a more mature and evolved side of Touche Amore that is both refreshing and striking, with an abundance of layered guitars, churning beats, and dissonant tones that help to create an interesting interplay between lyrical vulnerability and sonic aggression. Conversely, "Kerosene," "Blue Angel" resurrect the driving rhythms, unrefined aggression and raw vocals that has been so prevalent on past releases and will surely satisfy those looking for well-delivered, confrontational, emotional hardcore. Unfortunately, the album is unable to maintain this pace and seems to run out of creative steam towards the end. "Non Fiction" and "Is Survived By" have admirable moments, but overall they feel forced, scattered, and indulgent. Both tracks seem to strive for complexity and intricacy but come off as cacophonous and confused. Bottom Line: Touche Amore continues to impress with a unique brand of raucous post-hardcore, but the album is not without its missteps. Nevertheless, Is Survived By will no doubt strike a chord with those looking a band who can be ferocious, vulnerable, and dynamic, without being obscure or contrived.