Label: Memory Music
Released: 4th October 2024
In many ways, this is the album that was never meant to be, with Balance & Composure announcing their split in 2019. But after five years apart, the Pennsylvania quintet are back with atmospheric return ‘with you in spirit’.
The record’s sound mirrors the moody, romantic album cover, embodying the swirling rainclouds that swell over a sky of deep blues and luscious purples. Shifting away from the more straightforward emo tracks that made them such a mainstay on the scene, the band delve further into more experimental, post-punk arrangements that feel like you’re diving into a deep pool of gothic guitar and driving drums.
There are moments of real quality that keep you guessing. There’s a bassline on ‘sorrow machine’ that could fit into a metalcore track, alongside tracks like ‘any means’ and ‘cross to bear’ that crackle with energy, a stitch away from tearing open with full force. That the songs don’t actually open up and soar does slightly feel like an opportunity missed.
The sonic palette used on this album clearly takes centre stage, overlapping and filtering down to tie all the songs together, arguably putting the style and specific sound of the record before anything else. As a result, the blend is sometimes slightly off-kilter, putting the throbbing bass too high in the mix, sounding so similar to the distorted-yet-velvety vocal that tracks begin to morph into each other in a way that makes it difficult to differentiate between tracks.
Nonetheless, there is a beauty in the darkness, a comfort in the idea of being wrapped under a blanket while a storm rages all around you. ‘with you in spirit’ is Balance & Composure reintroducing themselves. Maybe they haven’t got it perfect on their first try, but it’s still an accomplished offering.
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