mewithoutYou
Pale Horses

Year of our Lord 2015.

Aaron Weiss, born in '79, an impetuous and exuberant lyricist, is on the brink of an existential crisis.

As images of nuclear wars and portents of Judgment Day haunt his dreams, the band reunites to bring forth their sixth work.

The mewithoutYou have aged since their frantic and shouted debut: on the brink of their forties, they begin to feel the weight of the guitars, while the violent post-hardcore charge of the early works has now dissipated, giving way to the folk influences of the latest albums (see "It's All Crazy, It's All False, It's All A Dream, It's Alright" and "Ten Stories").

Now it's time to once again rely primarily on the guitars, but with more maturity and calmness than in the past; the guitars on this record are less distorted, more measured, and perfectly intertwine under Weiss's prophetic voice, creating several truly evocative moments.

Completely eliminated is any other instrumentation (harps, winds, and accordions of old times) the eleven tracks are ready: only the lyrics are missing.

For the first time, in fact, Aaron decides not to interfere in the recording process and writes the lyrics separately, as if they were insights, poems, personal notes. The result is a stream of consciousness that is at times evocative, at times delirious, through which Weiss's deepest fears and disappointments are poured onto the tracks composed by his colleagues, sometimes in a subdued and apathetic tone, sometimes retaining the ancient anger.

Precisely: the lyrics. Once you accept the singer's deep religiosity (note that it is not fanaticism, but a deep spirituality that embraces Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) they prove to be decidedly enjoyable, brilliant, and full of metaphors and literary quotes.

I apologize if this review seems out of focus and approximate, but it is the first I am trying to write. I chose the latest work of my favorite band, an album that I find extremely pleasant, fluid, and cohesive in essence (some might say flat and monotonous, and perhaps they would be right) with good highlights. For instance, I cite the final resolution of "Mexican War Streets", the single "Red Cow", the atomic ballad "Magic Lantern Days", and the entire piece "Rainbow Signs", the masterpiece of the album divided between a desolate and melancholic half and a harsh and pounded one.

Totally subjective rating, bear with me. Recommended Record.