“Like a bad star, I’m falling faster down to her
She’s the only one who knows, what it is to burn”
These lyrics are the last moment I remember having with Finch. What It Is To Burn was released on March 12, 2002. This album, along with Thursday’s Full Collapse and Thrice’s The Illusion of Safety, helped to define what we now know as “SCREAMO.”
I actually hate using that word to describe heavier rock (with an emotive drive), but these said albums did do just that. Finch produced an emotional and memorable album that quickly became the anthem for many early millenial’s angst and teenage bleeding hearts. Helmed and produced by Mark Trombino, a man who helped Jimmy Eat World and Blink 182 conquer the world, this debut shook the earth!
So, let’s move past 2005’s Say Hello To Sunshine and examine what Finch has to offer us a decade later. Here is a my run-through, track by track of their latest effort Back To Oblivion:
The opener (and title track) “Back To Oblivion” starts with a riff that gives hope that this could be a great album. Simple and clear and aggressive. The vocals from Nate Barcalow are delivered strong and confident. They already seem like a band that wants back into the scene as if they never left. This song is a strong opener. It is youthful and energetic while still sounding like a band that has grown and matured through many years on the road. No screaming, but none is needed.
“Anywhere But Here” has a dark rock quality to it and still holds a dirty pop sound. It definitely shows songwriting maturity. Simple and not so clean, yet hard hitting and emotional. The bridge brings out some cool distortions and helps the song seem heavier than it really is; a forte that Finch is known for, and a hard feat to master in this type of music.
“Further From the Few” is the post-punk fast paced rocker fans were also needing from Finch. It has a nicely paced tempo and angsty lyrics and will hopefully entice new fans who discover Finch.
The slower paced “Murder Me” brings out all the emo chops Finch has to offer in a ballad form. It does pick up in the second verse and beautifully builds into a fuller rock song. Strong vocals and good musicianship make this song one to notice as a possible single.
“Picasso Trigger” reminds me of old Matthew Good Band for some reason. Not a bad tune.
“Play Dead” has a very creative intro with some unique percussion. Barcalow’s vocals are ghostly and mysterious and this song explodes into an anthemic chorus. Played live, this one will be a crowd favorite for sure. Still no actual screaming, but moshing may still occur!
“Two Guns To the Temple” brings more aggressiveness at this point on the record. Grungy and angry it does get the blood flowing.
“The Great Divide” starts out promising with a simple riff and wide vocals. So far this album is a departure from older material, but the chorus on this song takes us back a little bit. The content of the lyrics may be different, but this song follows the formula they perhaps used on older songs, just with more of a post-punk influence.
“Us vs. Them” and “Tarot” are both interesting and good tracks. “Tarot” has a very beautiful bridge that slows way down and builds back up to crashing rock. A great moment for Back To Oblivion.
“Inferium” is worth a dark room and headphones listen, as it’s lyrics are very moving. It slowly builds and the addition of violin helps it be even more riveting. At just over 4 minutes in, the song properly explodes after coming to an acapella moment of sheer tranquility.
The last song “New Wave” reminds me of staring out at the ocean and just being still. It rightly ends Back To Oblivion well, and I can say that I am truly grateful that Finch is back with a fine piece of work. The strong song writing and the original lyrical content are a nice quality to experience, especially as we are bombarded with so many young bands trying to grow up too fast.
Final thoughts: Well done Finch. Please don’t stop now…
Rating: 4.5/5