A day before Warped Tour kicks off in Texas, The Color Morale have treated fans to the first single off their upcoming 5th album, "Desolate Divine". This will be the band's second album on Fearless Records, their previous, "Hold on Pain Ends" came a little over a year after their much loved 3rd album, "Know Hope".
Click this (link) to get the single, and preorder the album on iTunes. And be sure to catch them on Warped Tour this summer!
The haunting opening to this song is a new for the band. The closest analog would be the opening track of "Hold On Pain Ends", "Damaged". But this intro is far superior. Complete with atmospheric effects, and a melodic vocal display from Garret Rapp.
The track's overall sound is reminiscent of The Word Alive, Too Close To Touch, Hands Like Houses, and even Bring Me the Horizon. Mixing high production with soaring melodies, and signature TCM breakdowns and riffs, this song balances the new with the old perfectly. For those who miss the band's older material, don't worry. There are still plenty of moments that recall TCM's grungy metalcore.
One of the biggest complaints the band has dealt with is that their music was too "chuggy". But in this new song, Devin King and Aaron Saunders are in perfect synch. Crafting guitar lines that remain rooted in post hardcore, and metalcore, but don't get lost in those cliches. The chorus is in particular is a standout for the duo.
And speaking of the chorus, let's take a moment to talk about the production. The producer of this track is in need of a pat or two on the back. With the familiar aromatic effects the chorus is literally elevated above the rest of the song. During verses, the effects are toned down to give Rapp's voice the spotlight. Same deal during the breakdown. The effects are brought to the background to show fans TCM can still groove with the best of the hardcore scene.
The success of the song stems from the electronics and effects, plus the stellar vocal performance from Rapp. His unclean vocals drift from those he employed "Know Hope" and "Hold on Pain Ends". He seems to have reverted to his older, more metalcore oriented growls. Mixed with Aaron Saunder's gutteral screams, the song has strong ties to the band's debut and sophomore efforts.
Summary -
This song takes The Color Morale to a new level. It has all the typical TCM trademarks (enlightening lyrics, and powerful choruses). And then it has some new stuff that we can't get enough of. If this is an indicator of what the rest of the album is going to sound like, we're sold. The band will be performing on Warped Tour all summer. This is one song we can't wait to see live.
Rating - 8.5 to 9/10