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Rating: If the previous "When Broken Is Easily Fixed" might have still seemed a bit raw, here Silverstein pull together, smooth out all the edges of their sound, and tackle their second full-length with many certainties and one confirmation: the Canadian five-piece, unlike many, continues on their path.
If they are now at the top of the current emocore scene, the success is well-deserved. And this is precisely thanks to "Discovering The Waterfront". Which boasts a cover graphic as sublime as ever, and which in itself is an instant snapshot of the band's musical approach.
Unlike the previous work, which featured 2/3 standout tracks ("Smashed into Pieces" above all) and then lost some momentum, here they have managed to address the issue by writing many good pieces and unforgettable riffs that other bands would use to build three albums. A mix of melancholy, hope, anger, and suffering, this is what you feel while listening to the platter. This entire emotional whirlwind finds its fulfillment during the 11 tracks that skillfully alternate power-pop segments with sweet arpeggios and delicate vocals, with hardcore outbursts featuring piercing screams and slight metal nuances.
It's hard to find one track more beautiful than the others; instead, all of them manage to not pale in comparison, maintaining excellent levels overall.
As they say in these cases, there's a little bit for everyone's taste and budget. It starts with the energy of "Your Sword vs. My Dagger" which brings out the hardcore side of the band, culminating in an electric finale with metal-inspired riffs overlapping a prominently pulsing bass on the bridge, up to the successful single "Smile in Your Sleep" which skillfully alternates calm verses characterized by a splendid melody with a bridge where the guitars raise their voice.
As you progress, the violins that support the ballad of the album, namely the title track "Discovering the Waterfront," stand out, but even more prominent are the frontal assaults of "Fist Wrapped in Blood," which concludes with a very intense finale, featuring piercing screams and metallic riffs, the splendid tranquil and dreamy atmosphere of "Ideas of March," and the compelling rhythms of "Defend You," arguably the most hc piece of the lot along with the opener.
Also noteworthy among the best is "Always and Never," which impresses with the incisiveness and intensity of the shouted attack and culminates in a pogo-worthy chorus.
Special mention goes to "My Heroine," one of the most beautiful emocore pieces in recent years, worth listening to the entire album alone and giving a precise idea of who Silverstein are. A gem that shines with its own light, with spectacular base riffing, further highlighting Shane Told's great performance behind the microphone. Here melancholy and aggressiveness seem to go hand in hand like hatred with love, two sides of the same coin that seem impossible to separate. Also noteworthy is the song's video set in a hospital.
The final touches to complete the overall painting are provided by the inspired riffing and the effect of the spoken words in "Already Dead," "Three Hours Back," and "Call it Karma," which through its backing vocals gives us the final farewell. This composition gains further beauty in its acoustic version contained in the band's collection of EPs and rarities "18 Candles: The Early Years."
An excellent performance by the entire band and great production significantly enhance the value of the work infinitely. The choices of sounds and harmonizations are spot-on, this time seeing the drastic reduction of the use of the violin, in fact used on only one track. And it's hard not to get captivated by the splendid vocals, whether they are whispered, melodic, or Shane Told's screaming, one of the most beautiful voices in the genre. Perhaps along with Dustin Kensrue of Thrice, the most fascinating.
A further positive note can be found in the songwriting: the Canadians demonstrate having different song formats at their disposal. Thus, they succeed in making everything very varied and keeping boredom at a decent distance.
In conclusion, the album is recommended to everyone, both to those who already know them and to those who are new to the genre and want to delve deeper into the subject. Without a doubt, "Discovering The Waterfront" remains a small gem that shines with its own light, in an ocean (genre) too crowded like today's, standing out like few others and remaining so far the peak of their career and one of the most beautiful in its field.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Smile in Your Sleep (03:13)
When I'm lying in your bed play the motions through my head
you know that I'm thinking, I'm thinking...
and I have reasons to believe that I'm not the only
one you spend this time with, but I'll stay...
[Chorus]
You say you're weak,
you wont let me down [x2]
you lie through your teeth
you smile in your sleep [x2]
When we met you said we were the same, you know
that we're different, we're different,
and all the times you promised me that everything would
work out in the end, you were gravely mistaken
[Chorus]
You lie [x4], you lie through your teeth
you wont let me down, you lie
and I deserve better than this
I dream of steel maroon and red
your end[x3], You gasp for air
I'll see this through, I'll see through you,
your pale [x4], your pale blue eyes
When you're lying in your bed, your eulogies been read
you know that it's fading, you lied
[Chorus]
You smile [x4] and I deserve better than this
03 The Ides of March (03:27)
Tie me up with sheets and hang me from your tree
I'll stay out here all night
It doesn’t even matter
As long I can see into your room and feel
Like I'm inside your life
I'll follow you forever
Don’t cut me down just yet
I'll make things right again
Don’t close your blinds on me (on me)
[Chorus]
I will never recover from this
I will never believe in this again
I can never go back to the way I used to be before this started
This snow won't go away
My nose runs down my face
No one sees me here
It doesn’t even matter
And every step I take
I stay in the same place
I can't begin to start again
Why can't I just be perfect?
I will never recover from this
I will never believe in this again
I can never go back to the way I used to be before this started [x2]
You've seen my ghost and you'll never forget it
My face is as white as the snow that haunts me
Your window's my door and nothing can stop me
Sometimes betrayal can make you happy
Don’t cut me down just yet
I'll make things right again
Don’t close your blinds on me (on me)
I will never recover from this
I will never believe in this again
I can never go back to the way I used to be before this started [x2]
04 Fist Wrapped in Blood (02:57)
Come on!
Finish me off, follow the plan.
Break all the bonds, sever the ties.
And now your mission is complete,
Find and destroy me.
Torturing me, with words from your lips.
Filleting my skin, pulling my teeth.
Please forgive me for not being good enough.
Drown your sorrows in my pain
And it's something you can't explain.
When I'm choking on words you'll never say,
And you'll never feel the same.
Bound and gagged,
I cannot move or speak these things I want to say
I can't explain them anyway.
So if I had it all again,
If I could start from the first words I ever said,
I would do it all the same.
Drown your sorrows in my pain
And it's something you can't explain.
When I'm choking on words you'll never say,
And you'll never feel the same.
Your joy is my pain.
My fingers are yours to cut off
And my bones are yours to shatter in pieces.
My teeth are yours to pull out
And my soul is yours to slowly rip apart.
I can't trust anyone I meet.
From now on, my chest
Feels more like a fist wrapped in blood.
05 Discovering the Waterfront (04:45)
I will promise myself I won't care
Distracting myself from your stare
And I've seen this mistake once before
With your games I will never fall for
I've hung up my guns
I won't kill again
I won't forget you
I won't forget you
I'm not gonna let you win
(I'm not gonna)
I'm tired of lying
Tired of fighting you
And its not gonna change
You ask for my heart
You know that I'm down
But not the way you lie to me
You tear it all apart
And beg for me to stay
I've sailed off to sea
I'm not coming back
I won't forget you
I won't forget you
I'm not gonna let you win
I'm not gonna
I'm tired of the lying
Tired of fighting you
And its not gonna change
Counting down
Make that sound
And you know it makes no sense
Counting down
Till you mess around
When I know you can't ever change
Why do you think I'm trembling?
Thrown us apart
When I'm ready to relive the past
Counting down
Make that sound
Break the silence
Pretend its not forever
Ill pull myself together
Ill say that ill forget her
Ill breathe
And ill say she never hurt me
And look at it as learning
And laugh about the good and the bad
Because I will live forever
We don't belong together
I know ill feel better
One day when I can make it through
I won't forget you
I won't forget you
I'm not gonna let you win
I'm not gonna
I'm tired of lying
Tired of fighting you
And its not gonna change
I won't forget you
(Counting down)
I'm not gonna let you win
(Counting down)
I'm tired of the lying
Tired of fighting you
And its not gonna change
06 Defend You (03:28)
I'll write it down
Where you can see
I have gone to sleep
Try to relate
Can't give in to your temptations (temptations)
All your hopes and dreams, I'll take away
Its time that I forget everything
you've taught me (you've taught me)
When I looked up to you
Fall to your knees
And Give up your aspirations (aspirations)
Fall in to your knees
So how can you expect
me to just close my eyes
And forget everything
Defending you is getting
harder everyday, day
I'm breaking down
Behind this fear
If I don't go to my addiction
Make it through yourself
All your hopes and dreams, I'll take away
Its time that I forget everything
you've taught me (you've taught me)
When I looked up to you
So how can you expect
me to just close my eyes
And forget everything
Defending you is getting
hard everyday, day
I look inside myself for strength
Like a million times before
You'll never let it in because
I know you said
I know you said
I know, I know, I know, I know
Fall, I'll show you where this goes (where this goes)
How can you live this way
I'll never forget (Never forget)
Where I come from, Where I've been
I'll never forget you
So how can you expect
me to just close my eyes
And forget everything
Defending you is getting
harder everyday, day
So how can you expect
me to just close my eyes
And forget everything
Defending you is getting
harder everyday, day
You've lost it all
07 My Heroine (03:27)
The drugs begin to peak
A smile of joy arrives in me
But sedation changes to panic and nausea
And breath starts to shorten
And heartbeats pound softer
You won't try to save me
You just want to hurt me
And leave me desperate
You taught my heart
A sense I never knew I had
I can't forget
The times that I was lost and depressed from the awful truth
How do you do it?
You're my heroine
You won't leave me alone
Chisel my heart out of stone
I give in everytime
You taught my heart
A sense I never knew I had
I can't forget
The times that I was lost and depressed from the awful truth
How do you do it?
You're my heroine
I bet you laugh
At the thought of me thinking for myself
I bet you believe
That I'm better off with you then someone else
Your face arrives again
A hope I had becomes surreal
But under your covers
More torture then pleasure
And just past your lips
There's more anger then laughter
Not now or forever will I ever change you
I know that to go on I'll break you, my habit
You taught my heart
A sense I never knew I had
I can't forget
The times that I was lost and depressed from the awful truth
How do you do it?
You're my heroine
I will save myself!
08 Always and Never (03:49)
This was my fate, giving in
To your lips, to your eyes
I should have known
It would come back to haunt me
Crooked smile, the reflection in your eyes
That shows my weakness for
Beautiful mistakes,
Something that I know you've seen before,
I'm not the first
Set the trap, I'm falling for it every time
I can't believe
Everyone knew from the start
This would come back to haunt me
I can't stand to see you now!
How could I ever trust you?
Take it back to the streets,
I'll start again
I'll never look back,
I'll never look back, back
How do you feel?
I bet you don't feel anything!
Don't have a heart attack
Don't have a heart attack
But I won't stop you
Flying high, razor blades make perfect lines,
On just about anything you want
Broken pores spill out, everything you want to say,
It shows my weakness for
Falling in love with
My wallowing despair that shines in black
It consumes me, I'll take it back
I'll build it back to what it was
I can't believe everyone knew from the start
This would come back to haunt me
I can't stand to see you now!
How could I ever trust you?
Take it back to the streets,
I'll start again
I'll never look back,
I'll never look back, back
How do you feel?
I bet you don't feel anything!
Don't have a heart attack
Don't have a heart attack
But I won't stop you
I can't believe everyone knew from the start
This would come back to haunt me
I can't stand to see you now!
How could I ever trust you?
Cut me out, of your life
Like its nothing, like I'm nothing!
Make believe you can love,
That it's better, that your better!
Part of me is gone
You've taken
You've taken
You've taken
You've taken
Part of me is gone,
You've taken
You've taken
Pieces from me
Take it back to the streets,
I'll start again
I'll never look back,
I'll never look back, back
How do you feel?
I bet you don't feel anything!
Don't have a heart attack
Don't have a heart attack
But I won't stop you
You won't stop, you'll never change
You won't stop, you'll never change
09 Already Dead (03:17)
You won't find me here, the place that you expected me to be
In my bed on the second floor
I'm outside your house
I'm closing in on you
And all the times you smiled
You said hello and thought I was ok
I was planning your final struggle
{Chorus}
When you wake up I'll be there
When you see me you'll be on your back again
When you know you're already dead, you'll love me too
You will find me here
The place you least expected me to be
Breaking through your basement window
I'm outside your room, I can hear you breathe
And all the times you laughed
You shook my hand and thought I was your friend
I was planning your tragic ending
When you wake up I'll be there
When you see me you'll be on your back again
When you know you're already dead, you'll love me too
You'll look down on me
With eyes of endless tragedy
Try and stop the pain
But there's never closure
Find your solace in what you could have been
When they look for me
The evidence is buried deep
Try to guide the way into the darkness
When you wake up I'll be there
When you see me you'll be on your back again
When you know you're already dead, you'll love me too
Looking down on me through eyes that never stop crying
Looking down on me, will you ever look away?
11 Call It Karma (03:34)
blame it on the weather, but i'm a mess
and this february darkness has me hating everyone
and i know i need your comfort, but this drama makes me sick
and the longer i lay here, i know it's harder to get up
without you
[chorus]
lose another day here
lose another year here
i'm with you
Finally, something out there, that's making sense
and it's just another trend carefully hidden in your dress
and this cycles neverending, and this fashions overdone
and the further that i run away, the further i'll come back
to shelter...
[chorus]
lose another day here
lose another year here
i'm with you
you are the fire, on my apartment floor
sixteen stories, i'd rather burn then fall
and it isn't fate, that took us all by storm
it's just the turn of a card
[chorus]
lose another day here
lose another year here
i'm with you
you are the fire, on my apartment floor
sixteen stories, i'd rather burn then fall
and it isn't fate, that took us all by storm
it's just the turn of a card
goodbye old friend
goodbye goodnight
i'll move on
you'll call it fate, i'll call it karma
we had our time, it was fun
while it lasted
i'll look back, with honor
and no regrets
i won't be mad, won't feel bad
these memories will never leave me
don't be sad
cause life goes on, life goes on
it's getting too late
tomorrow is here
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Other reviews
By Funeral For A Friend
Silverstein has the great ability to keep the listener engaged by offering unpredictable songs, some melodic and more in the style of Hawthorne Heights, others harder and screamed.
'Smile In Your Sleep', in my opinion, the best song of the entire album, where the drummer shines with truly exceptional technique.
