Silverstein
Discovering the Waterfront

THE REVIEW

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.