Silverstein - Rescue Review

Silverstein's discography stands as one of the most consistent of any band around today. The Canadian post-hardcore outfit have been dropping full-length albums since 2003, and despite the trends and industry changes over the past eight years, the band have remained true to their sound on each of their five LPs. And with their release late last month of Rescue, the band have once again proved that melodic post-hardcore isn't dead - if you're doing it right.

The album simply picks up where Silverstein left off with 2009's release, A Shipwreck In The Sand. Rescue is tough and edgy, but comes packed with enough catchiness to grab a wide array of fans from across the scene - as has mostly any of the band's releases.

Take for instance the second track on the record, "Sacrifice". It starts out with a fast and technical guitar lead worthy of being called metal. Add to that Shane Told's brutal screams to open up the vocals and the track certainly sounds like the sharper side of the band. But when the chorus hits, it's a different story. Told's unmistakable singing takes center stage, over rhythmic and open guitar chords, that will undoubtedly be the singalong anthem of the band's live show.

Top this track off with a breakdown that encompasses everything Silverstein are - chugging rhythmic guitars laced with soaring leads, snare happy percussion and Told's growls that suddenly open up to a melodic hook before transitioning back into the chorus. In one word, balance.

The aspect about this band that has kept fans coming back album after album is that balance. Silverstein walk a fine line. They're not quite metal. They don't play anything too poppy. There is screaming, but there's also a good amount of singing. Somehow, every record, including Rescue, has the perfect balance to it.

And this only becomes clearer as you move down the album's track listing. "Burning Hearts", which sounds strangely like a Hawthorne Heights song, adds the pop-rock element to the record that will grab at the emo contingent of Silverstein's fan base.

Further down, "Live To Kill" throws out a vicious chorus that any hardcore enthusiast can latch onto and call their own. "We live to kill each other/We are the wealthy and the poor/We shout, but we don't listen/All we want is more".

Overall, if you've enjoyed anything Silverstein have done in the past, you're going to like Rescue. This isn't a band trying to reinvent themselves, or push their sound somewhere it shouldn't go. Silverstein have found their niche, and are sticking to it.

Their balance and consistency have undoubtedly led to their success. Rescue seems fresh, regardless of it sounding like another Silverstein record. Again, a balance between new and old. And certainly, a balance worth your time.