When you have band members that have had such road worn and storied careers in UKHC luminaries such Dead Swans, Last Witness, Brutality Will Prevail and even the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, you are quite right to assume that the crushing calibre of songwriting is going to be strong here. After wetting appetites with the acclaimed EP Withdrawal Symptoms, Still In Love have finally released the much anticipated full album Recovery Language.
Key single, ‘Preserve & Cherish’, has Sam Carter from UK metal greats Architects pop to assist with guest vocals. A nice touch here. On the flip side, Basement’s Andrew Fisher lends his vocals for the choruses of ‘You Have To Let It Go’, the emotive element showcased even further.
Frantic drumbeats reflect the sense of urgency which flip back and forth from tinges of atmosphere to nod the theme of the sometimes fragile human condition which runs through Recovery Language. Opening track ‘Tell The Truth’ has the phrase “Trauma will find you” as the chorus, alluding to the subject further. At the same time, the bread and butter of beat downs that make up the band’s hardcore DNA are prevalent with dance floor destroying two-step rhythm.
The guitar work is crunchy and lacerating like classic-era Poison The Well and the atmosphere created throughout lends itself to some of the bleaker entries of the Deathwish Inc. roster such the much-missed Planes Mistaken For Stars and the Canadian cult legends Cursed.
Incredibly cathartic, as predetermined by the brisk track lengths. Converge-like audio baseball bat shots are used to great effect and precision. Bludgeoning with minimal breathing time in the process. Claustrophobic and a constant sense of anxiety-riddled inertia makes this a heartfelt album without being insincere.
Closer ‘Pillar Of Strength’ is the only song that goes past the five-minute mark and this is a suitable coup de grâce for this emotional ride, streams of delay guitars are in juxtaposition with savage blast beats.
Whilst the UKHC scene has evolved significantly over the years, Recovery Language is a modern hardcore record that encompasses all areas of the scene and remaining a strong slab of intensity whilst maintaining a strong sense of maturity and technical proficiency. It isn’t frightened to get up close and personal with you and tackle the darker side of life but manage to life you up and empower you at the same time.