Coming back to a place after a long time away can bring back a flood of memories when you finally arrive back to that same location. The same feeling can be adapted to when bands we love return after a lengthy hiatus and take us right back to that time when we felt like the music they were creating made us feel better about the world around us. Amber Pacific have returned with their first full-length record in eleven years, with All In. Guitarist/vocalist Will Nutter shared about the feeling of the new record by describing that, “It will captivate you as soon as you hit play and will keep you engaged as it takes you through each phase of the song, bringing unique sounds and intricate parts from start to finish. A throwback that’s made for the AP faithful but one that also aims to attract new fans to the world of Amber Pacific as we approach the release of our fifth full length album.” By making an album that feels simultaneously like a burst of nostalgia, paired with a sense of urgency to reclaim their spot in the crowded pop-punk scene, Amber Pacific put their most authentic selves forward on All In.
The album starts off on the right foot with the great, speedy pop-punk of the lead single “Sink or Swim” and lead vocalist Matt Young commands the track that is filled with slick production, pulsating drumming from Dango, and a familiar feeling to Amber Pacific’s ever-evolving sound. The hook of “Let’s wait forever / Here in this home / We spent a lifetime / We’re growing old / And in the moment / No one will know / Changes aren’t forever / I’m not here to let this go,” is sure to connect with the elder emo that many of us identify with.
Things progress nicely on “Young & Reckless” that is filled with several “whoa-oh-oh’s” and crunchy guitar chords from Nutter and Justin Westcott. Bassist Brad Torkelson makes his presence felt on the verses while Matt Young continues to rally his bandmates around his every lyric. “The Conqueror” rocks with a nice bounce to it that demands for pogoing in the mosh pit, while the mostly acoustic ballad of “Afloat” brings a nice, balanced texture to the sound the band were going for on All In. The latter song accelerates smoothly, and features a legendary crescendo to reach the finish line gracefully.
“Meant To Be” starts off like a folk/Bluegrass band getting the crowd involved, before bleeding away into a great pop-punk anthem. “Unbroken” features a steady beat from Dango, before his interesting fills complement the sound the band were going for here. “The Good Life (Matt’s Version)” begins with almost an Angels & Airwaves type of introduction before turning the song on its head with a slab of pop-punk nostalgia that is sure to be a staple in the band’s set for the foreseeable future.
“The Honest Truth” smacks the listener in the face with a burst of sunshine-ready vibes, and at times, feels like a Goldfinger-esque type of island-infused anthem. “SOS” features a crisp guest vocal spot from Mest’s Tony Lovato to continue to keep the audience engaged in the pop-punk energy being brought forth, while “One Step Away” is a more straight-forward rock anthem that embraces the best parts of the emo/punk scene.
The closing duo of the pitfalls of romantic relationships with “Just Friends,” paired with the excellent “The Hero or The Villain” should remind Amber Pacific fans of why they fell in love with this band in the first place. The band has done the near impossible task of reintroducing themselves to the scene they helped build up, while creating a record that is worthy of their legacy, and leaving the door wide open to the realm of possibilities they could take their sound next.