Anyone who has ever heard a Casey song knows the unfiltered emotion, poetic lyricism, and moving instrumentals of their music is unmatched.
In half a decade, this gained the Welsh melodic hardcore group a devoted fanbase who would be devastated upon the announcement of their break-up in 2019. Much to their surprise, the band would announce their return at the end of 2022, just three and a half years after their sold out farewell show in Chicago.
Now with the release of their third studio album, How To Disappear (Hassle Records), Casey has blossomed.
According to vocalist Tom Weaver, the band’s split was mainly due to personal growth and wanting to distance themselves from the woeful lyrical themes of the first two albums and preceding EP.
Opening track “Unique Lights” reassures fans that that growth never stopped over their time apart, through lyrics such as “I want you to know that I’m happier now, than I’ve ever been.” From this moment on, it is clear that — although there is a strong sense of familiarity — this album is not only a comeback for Casey, but a reintroduction.
What continues to be so respectable about Casey is that, when it comes to their music, not one member has an insincere bone in their body. They don’t care to fit into a particular genre, yet they have a distinct sound that is entirely their own — one that sparks naturally from the authentic emotion they pour into every song.
While the post-hardcore world is where they usually tend to gravitate, their post-rock instrumentals are a major aspect of what sets them apart. Guitarists Toby Evans and Liam Torrance create lush soundscapes and resonating riffs to back Weaver’s emotive storytelling in tracks like “For Katie”, “Selah” and “Space Between”.
Heavy vocals are used sparingly and only when the built-up emotion of a track calls for it, making them all the more satisfying when they are presented. “Sanctimonious” forebodes Weaver’s screams with a menacing guitar lead, while “Puncture Wounds To Heaven” breaks them out more unexpectedly with a rumbling storm of drums and ethereal guitars that could easily be mistaken for a choir of angels.
The dynamic “Bite Through My Tongue” may have the most ear-catching chorus of the record, seamlessly tying together Weaver’s luminous harmonies and soul-stirring screams.
The closing title track wraps up the album with call-and-response vocal layers soaring over a gleaming guitar line, repeating the lines “Is everything okay?” and “Sorry if I’ve been avoiding the question”. These thought-provoking lyrics and flourishing instrumentals end the record on quite the cliffhanger, sure to keep the longtime fans on their toes.
How To Disappear marks a strong return for Casey, holding onto all the cherished characteristics of their previous work while adding a new sense of hope. If one thing’s for sure, it’s that the genuineness of their music is here to stay for as long as the band continues on together.
Buy the album here:
https://casey.ffm.to/how-to-disappear
8 / 10
COLLEEN KANOWSKY