When Bo from The Indy Review reached out to me about Grieving, my immediate response was, “yeah – sounds like something I could get into.” This was solely based on their name, given my penchant for tragic art. As they gear up to release their debut LP, I couldn’t be more thrilled to share my thoughts in this review.
The opening track of Everything Goes Right, All At Once bears the fitting title “Brian Emo,” a clear homage to the English artist, innovator, and creative maverick Brian Eno. The clever wordplay is not lost on me. Much like Eno, known for breaking down boundaries and blending genres, “Brian Emo” greets the listener with a rich fusion of punk, classic emo, and 90s post-hardcore. It starts with a stumbling bass, leading mysteriously into echoing, profound guitar riffs, and sharp vocals. Needless to say, I was hooked from the outset.
This blend of legacy punk, emo, and post-hardcore permeates the entire album. The influence of bands like Jawbreaker is unmistakable, with hints of a subdued aggression characteristic of Fugazi. The vocals effortlessly transition from a classic Dischord Records feel to an almost spoken-word delivery atop grunge-infused guitar and bass lines.
This is particularly evident in tracks like “Tarpaulin” and one of my favorites, “Pristine.” While many songs showcase Grieving’s diverse range, the floating bridge in the second half of “Pristine,” leading back into the infectious, shouting chorus, is a standout moment.
And let’s not overlook what was previously a 2016 single, “My Friend, The Ghost” – a five-minute, softly delivered ballad. The instrumental bridge of this song, with its dueling, off-kilter guitars, steady drums, and minimalistic bass, is endlessly captivating. This bridge is exactly one minute long and I could live in it forever.
“Puritans (The Weight)” is perhaps the quintessential Grieving track on this debut LP. It pulsates with unpredictability – building tension with sharp edges and offering moments of breath and release. The ending feels deeply inspired by Eddie Vedder and I feel the entire track just captures the ethos of this record. It’s a brilliant song.
I genuinely cannot sing enough praises for Everything Goes Right, All At Once. From the moment I first listened, I knew I was met with something special. And now, as this gem is released into the world, I beg of you – if you listen to only one album this week, make it this one.
Everything Goes Right, All At Once hits all streaming platforms on March 15th but you can hear the latest single below:
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