Put simply, If There Is Light, It Will Find You couldn’t be a more genuine album. Pitching their seventh album, Senses Fail deliver an emotionally honest album with a feel of renewed passion.
With a tracklist ranking 12 songs, If There Is Light, It Will Find You covers a lot of ground. Fuelled by personal events and experiences of lead singer James “Buddy” Nielson, Senses Fail’s latest album is an embodiment of art over aesthetic.
“There’s no doubt the album holds its own”
As a band, Senses Fail have stuck it out with the post-hardcore emo scene delivering cathartic lyrics and meaningful music. If There Is Light, It Will Find is artful in both sounds and lyrical play, not holding back at taking a stab at the political or the topical. There’s no doubt the album holds its own, but the album’s opening takes resilience to push through.
Don’t get me wrong, “Double Cross” has an inviting opening and Buddy’s singing, borderline shouting, vocals, but it feels like repackaged 2000 era Simple Plan song with a bit of screaming. The emotive lyrics of Nielson’s struggle salvage the song, but the semi-successful symmetry between lyrics and sound eventfully pay off after a few listens.
Follow up track “Elevator To The Gallow” sits uncomfortably between the opening track and track three, “New Jersey Makes, The World Takes”. I’d go as far to say “Elevator To The Gallow” is a disposable filler track. Yes, it has in-depth lyrics, but what part of the album doesn’t; the song fails to grab your attention and is ultimately forgettable. Despite this, the album later redeems with plenty of hit tracks.
If There Is Light, It Will Find You puts forwards serious standout tracks. With songs that steer towards the political, “Gold Jacket, Green Jacket” has to be one of my favourites. Nielson doesn’t hold back with the lyrics, calling out America’s capitalist state and highlighting the struggle of mental health issues; the track is progressive in all the right ways.
“These star songs are neatly embedded into the albums track list”
“Shaking Hands” is another class song. While the song is a little more toned down, it is refined, vulnerable and romantic all in one. These star songs are neatly embedded into the albums track list presenting a creatively balanced structure of agenda driven songs comfortably situated alongside emotionally steeped tracks such as “Orlando And A Miscarriage” and “You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Senses.” In short, the band shows this isn’t just a new album, but creative a statement.
Overall, I might be a Senses Fail newbie, but they’ve definitely proved their worth. If There Is Light, It Will Find You offers more than catchy songs with emotive hooks, but something to become invested in. By the end of this album you’re likely to have another band in your Spotify library.
7/10
Zoya Raza-Sheikh
Images Courtesy of Little Press
