Unglued Reviews

Screamo stalwarts Silverstein – named after late great renaissance man Shel Silverstein – have moved in a markedly more accessible direction with third album Arrivals & Departures. Exactly how much of this transition can be attributed to the production by Mark Trombino (known for his work with Blink-182 and Jimmy Eat World) is unknown, but this is an album unmistakably oriented towards a wider audience than the band has previously cultivated.

The dominant flavour of the album is in a surprisingly radio-friendly vein and is best categorised as punchy melodic punk. However, there are other elements at play, most obviously in the form of strident breakdowns and occasional metal dissonance (as on opening track Sound Of The Sun). But the riffage is for the most part noticeably melody-driven, and Shane Told’s screamed lines – while still present – take more of a back seat in favour of yearning sung vocals.

The schizophrenic Vanity And Greed is the least successful combination of styles, and album closer True Romance is a drawn-out lowlight. But Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, rocking Love With Caution and particularly the appealing Worlds Apart and Still Dreaming demonstrate the rewards gained from taking their tough sound in a more pop-oriented direction. How this evolution will sit with long-term fans is unclear, but Arrivals & Departures is all but certain to expand Silverstein’s market share.

Owen Heitmann