The latest offering of music from Telltale is a solid mix of impactful, hard-hitting songs that still have plenty of substance about them to make you continue to think about the lyrical material. The band tackles themes like mental health, self-doubt, and other more global issues like the climate crisis to round out this EP. Telltale shared this about the new record, “This record is our viewpoint on being a part of the apocalyptic generation. We obsess over zombie films, live in fear of the daily news, and constantly foresee the end of the world. Or rather, the world as we know it. A generation written off as lazy and self-centered, we’re taught to think that something broken can’t be fixed from within.” With interesting guitar parts and uplifting vocals, this band would perfect for fans of bands like Sleeping With Sirens, Hawthorne Heights, and Set It Off.
The EP opens with the blistering single “Slow Burn,” that features a frenetic guitar riff that the band rallies around to build up to an anthemic chorus. The band ponders their outlook of life on more reflective songs like “Pessimist,” that complements the guitar tones to pair with the vocals nicely. Things pick up significantly again on the aggressive-tinged “Out of Control!” that brings plenty of energy to the set of songs that explore various themes. “Cobain” is a mid-tempo song that features guest vocals from an artist known as Honey Revenge, and the back and forth vocals tell a nice story along the way. When the two vocalists harmonize on the track, it makes for a great, full-sounding moment. The EP closes out with the title track, that explores mental health and the constant battle to find the light out of the darkest of times. Telltale never lets the heavy lyrical themes outweigh their ability to paint with vivid colors in their musical imagery.
Telltale are definitely on the right track of their self-discovery as both musicians and people as they battle their way through these songs and come out on the right side. Lie Your Way Out leaves the listener with just the right amount of anticipation towards what this band could potentially be capable of when their creative synapses are firing together towards the same common goal. And for now, the band does their best to get their audience to vibe with their musical direction.