On the latest album from the post-hardcore band Adventurer, the group is able to channel a lot of the best elements of the genre into a creative work of art. Led by the talented and energetic vocalist Jeff Masterson, there’s a lot to like about Adventurer on their sophomore album entitled Pacifica. What the band does best on this album is to allow their spiraling guitars to tangle a complex web of emotions paired well with their vocalist’s ability to match each of the highs and lows of the songs. Adventurer have gained key experience by touring with bands like Dance Gavin Dance and Hail the Sun, that they have put directly back into their sound. With an energetic blend of songs similar to Saosin, Taking Back Sunday, and early-Hawthorne Heights, this band could very well be your next obsession.
The album sets off on the right foot with lead single, “Voices Over Infinite Distance,” that features an intricate blend of unique guitar riffs, great vocals from Masterson, and some well-placed screams towards the end of the track to bring forth the raw emotion of the lyrical material. For example, on the second verse of, “While you’re holding on your crown / I’m on my feet still staring down / I’m standing on the edge while you scream / Why don’t you just jump? / Faster streams of water rush around me/ As your voice gets louder, twisting in reflex / Although my heart’s already stopped,” the emotive parts of the lyrics are emphasized through blood-curdling screams. What the band does particularly well on the opening single is to bring into focus the core emotions of each word, each note, and leave nothing for granted in their wake.
Other early standouts like “Telepathy Club” and the brooding “This Is Not For You” showcase a band exploring the possibilities of their improved sound. “Your Favorite Mistake” features a great opening bass line that sets that stage nicely for Masterson to explode into his opening lyrics of, “This isn’t just another excuse / Or is it, blame it all on you / Can you catch me baby while you’re lying down / Don’t worry, I’m not important enough to waste your time.”
Adventurer brings in some variety to their sound on “Solstice,” that displays a variety of tempo changes to hone in on the rich layer of emotions conveyed in the lyrics. “Afterlife” has two guest vocalists in Andy Cizek and Cristina Pena, and the new blood injected into the song really helps with the overall listening experience on Pacifica.
The latter stages of the album include a rare combination of two acoustic ballads in “210 Cherry St” where Masterson explains a previous relationship that has fallen apart with the other person moving on quickly into full-fledged adulthood. On the closer, “Champagne,” Masterson sings over an acoustic guitar about a previous relationship that turned sour, that lefts him wondering if that person is truly happy without him in their life.
With a wide variety of emotions conveyed on Pacifica it’s easy to see why Adventurer has caught on with so many fans. The band does a nice job of re-packaging a little bit of the successful elements of other scene staples into their own sound to still sound fresh. This new momentum found leading into the restart of touring this summer could find Adventurer on some key billings to further expand their audience.