England-based post-hardcore quartet Acres have always flown under the scene’s radar since their first EP back in 2014, but that doesn’t stop their dedicated fanbase from eagerly awaiting each new release over the years. With almost four years since their debut album Lonely World, the band has returned with their sophomore LP Burning Throne (A Wolf At Your Door Records) to show what they’re still capable of.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of filler surrounding the highlights. Much of the record feels like a watered-down version of everything that normally makes the band’s sound stand out among their post-hardcore peers. The soaring vocals are still there, but they’re canceled out by forgettable melodies that blur many of the songs together. Even the ambient guitars lose their charm from sitting in the backseat for too long, leaving a shortage of distinctive riffs and instrumental breaks.
‘Hold On’ leaves much to be desired, especially with its three-second tease of an outro. Up until this point, the song is pretty predictable – then throws the curveball of ending instead of building on the storming riff that could’ve made the dragging worth getting through.
While the album’s strongest tracks are saved for the second half, ‘The Death Of Me’ is the first half’s saving grace. The awaited vocal dynamics are turned up from the subtle atmosphere of the verse that slowly builds into the impassioned chorus, making for a heart-rending pay-off in the screamed downpour of a bridge. ‘Visual Hallucinations’ offers a toned down transition into the latter half of the record, using sustained guitar ambience and gloomy croons for an interlude relying entirely on the band’s soft side. This leads us into ‘My Everything’, which delivers more of the Acres flair I was waiting for. It provides the rumbling, edge-of-your-seat instrumentals my ears had been starved of, along with a massive final chorus.
It’s clear why they made ‘Into Flames’ one of the final singles, as it is easily the best track on the album. It’s packed with memorable riffs that do the song title justice, including a blazing solo that will uplift you into feeling like you can climb the tallest of mountains (no pun intended, old-school Acres fans). While the following track ‘When You’re Gone’ doesn’t bring anything new to the table, closer ‘Lost In Our Own World’ ends the record on a high note that will tug at your heartstrings. It has an ethereal guitar line looping throughout most of it, until erupting into a gleaming final refrain. The loop then returns to close the curtains with a calming mood, as if the band has found peace with being lost.
Burning Throne is a bit of a roller coaster with its high highs and low lows. With some unnecessary tracks taken out, it could make for a quality EP. The redundancy holds it back from being great overall, though it does have its moments that prove Acres haven’t lost their edge.
Buy the album here:
6 / 10
COLLEEN KANOWSKY