The latest studio album from The Early November is a great encapsulation of all the styles, vibes, and feelings they have brought forth over their career. As front-man Ace Enders put it in an interview I conducted with the band, “It’s the exclamation point, versus the period, of where we are in our career.” It’s hard to not agree with this sentiment as The Early November features everything that the band has been known for, while still moving the needle forward in their creative process as this LP may just be their finest hour. From the crunchy opening chords of the Futures-esque “The Empress” to the tender acoustic guitar bliss of “It Will Always Be,” this record is filled with breathtaking moments from front-to-back that makes the journey for longtime fans of The Early November that much sweeter.
After the raucous opener of “The Empress,” The Early November settle into a nice groove found on “The Magician,” as drummer Jeff Kummer pounds away on the percussion to echo Enders’ vocals on the chorus of, “Figure eight / Chase infinity / Right hand is waiting to erase it / So serpentine / You’ve got to limb to feed / That just keeps going or erasing.” The atmospheric elements added into the closing moments of the track signal true growth from the band that keeps getting better with age and know just when to let the song breathe a bit.
One of my favorites in the set, “About Me,” features a cool beat from Kummer while Ace Enders’ vocals shimmer as he sings triumphantly, “But I know you’re thinking about me / How you left me there in the dark / If you hear my name, are you lonely? / Does it let you heal like a scar? / ‘Cause I know you’re thinking about me / When you hear that song in the car / Now you left me on read like a movie / With these scars / But I know you’re thinking about me.” The lyrical imagery remains top-notch here as the band continues to remain their most captivating. The Early November paint with vivid colors on more brooding songs like “What We Earn” that explode out of the early darkness, much like the clouds parting for a blast of sunshine, with a searing vocal attack paired with energetic guitars when the chorus kicks in.
Other mid-tempo songs like “We Hang On” put emphasis on the band’s great songwriting as Ace Enders cements himself in the upper echelon of our scene’s writers through his great wordplay and vocal performance. “The Fool” features an all-time chorus of, “Why can’t you see me now / What’s changed in all of us and how / If I gave in to fear and doubt / Banish light from the sun / A shadow I am now / Am I a shadow,” as the lyrical contrast between the light and darkness becomes a sticking point.
”Tired Of Lying” features another great vocal performance from Enders as his emotive cadence kicks into a new gear with the utmost passion in his delivery. The somberness found on “The Dirtiest Things” offers a nice contrast to “The High Priestess” that shimmers in the eclectic mix of guitars, bass and drums, while Enders continues to showcase his charm.
By putting their best foot forward at this stage of their career, The Early November are worthy of the praise that comes with delivering a complete work of art on their self-titled record that re-ignites the flames of passion in their already vigorous fan-base. While the band hints at some uncertainty of the next steps for them, I hope that the success that comes from this strong artistic statement launches them into the next tier of creative opportunity and discover just how far down the rabbit hole really goes.