Yorkshire indie alternative rock band Embrace release their new album ‘Avalanche’ their ninth and first in four years. Singer Danny McNamara feels it’s their most authentic album to date and has come from places of love, panic, grief, obsession, or hope, with songs that revel in a tension that keeps them honest.
The album opens with `Stop` which is fast paced expansive and anthemic and seems to reflect on life from the perspective of where the writer is these days. A kind of meditation that comes from reaching a certain age and reflecting on what you have and taking time to appreciate it. There`s a reaffirmation of commitment running throughout `Road to Nowhere` which sways along and is packed with “whoahs” that will be sure to encourage the faithful to join in when shared live.
`Get Out of My Own Way` is a ballad which is stripped back with just piano and vocals initially before a strummed guitar joins then the rest of the band. As it progresses it feels almost orchestrated, a number made for lit phones and lighters in a stadium. We have a similarly reflective number with `Coming Home` whose harmonies ensure that it has a spiritual and gospel like vibe at times.
`Emily` is a contemplative slow burn initially with vocals that have a delightful affecting quality before it races off with some shimmering guitars and becomes quite orchestrated and expansive nigh on cinematic. A grinding grungy guitar riff leads us into `Up in Your Feelings` a rhythmic and melodic absorbed offering.
`Pure O` is when a person experiences distressing, intrusive thoughts without obvious physical compulsions and here the music appears to mirror the symptoms on this kind of speedy fairy busy and erratic piece. We return to a more anthemic ballad like submission with `Deny`, a thoughtful and thought provoking track.
`Funny` opens with some iridescent guitar chord riffs, a cadenced drumbeat, and keys on this deeply reflective and robust composition. The album closes out with `The Power` with stark piano keys and emotive stripped back vocals which gather both guitar and drums on route to really allow the song an expressive and expansive feel.
I remember seeing Embrace nearly thirty years ago, around the time that they released their debut album `The Good Will Out` and one thing that were always capable of was writing an anthemic number with some thought provoking lyrics and on `Avalanche` they have retained this ability but from a place of maturity and reflection gained from life experiences and taking time to notice and cherish the small things in life that we let slip by. The title `Avalanche` could even be a metaphor to describe an overwhelming, sudden rush or accumulation of things, which sums up the album content.
The band is out on the road celebrating thirty years with a few festival appearances prior to a UK tour in November and on the strength of `Avalanche` and their back catalogue, it`ll be a must-see experience.
Rating 8.5/10
