New Jersey Alt-Rock stalwarts The Early November are back with the obligatory step in every artist’s career – the self-titled album (via Pure Noise Records). Now just a duo, frontman Ace Enders and drummer Jeff Kummer, The Early November seventh record is a distillation of their signature, emo-meets-pop-punk style of alternative rock with its crunchy guitars, polished hooks and introspective, angst-filled lyrics.  

It is an energetic collection of emotive rockers. “Tired of Lying” is a good taster for the record – a punchy track about facing up to your personal demons. “About Me” is the poppiest moment here, with a perky drum beat, a well-used quiet and loud dynamic and shiny, radio-friendly chorus.

 The opening track “The Empress,” one of four tracks based on tarot cards, grabs your interest with its crunchy chords and its mid-2000s style chorus. “The High Priestess” is another of the tarot card-based numbers, with its tortured soul lamentations set to lively, anthemic style rock. 

Their seventh album is a decent display of emotive alternative rocker but it is something you have heard many, many times before, and comes across as a bit generic. This overfamiliarity does mean that many tracks tend to blend into another, and you struggle to remember half of them – the tepid ballad “We Hang On” is one of a few examples. 

“What We Earn,” an amped-up number with a visceral metallic crunch and pounding drums, shines briefly through the fog. As does the plaintive acoustic ballad “It Will Always Be”, its soft and gentle melody making for a nice change of pace.

The Early November is a good, if too overfamiliar, record of emotionally charged alt-rock with pop-punk and emo elements writ large. 

Buy the album here:
https://purenoise.merchnow.com/collections/the-early-november

6 / 10
THOMAS THROWER