You Me At Six is now encroaching upon their twentieth year of being a band. With seven albums under their belt to show for their work, what else does the band have left to showcase to the world? In the past, the band has shown that they are willing to stray into other genres. The previous album, Night People ‘was a foray into the world of indie-rock, taking inspiration from their peers in the likes of Royal Blood and The Black Keys.
Whereas VI went in a more conventional pop route, and their last album, released not even two years ago, went in a rockier path, Truth Decays (Rise Records) has been said to be a more intimate and personal look into the band’s psyche over the course of their career. By doing this the band is going back to their basics and looking at where they started in terms of their sounds of Take Off Your Colours… and Hold Me Down.
The band take a running start with the opening track ‘Deep Cuts’. A punchy indie-rock riff, reminiscent of a band like The Kooks takes the centre-stage. Josh Franceschi spits out the first verse accusingly “Tell me, did you take, the red or the blue pill?” The lyrics written out seem as if asking the question, but it’s down to Franceschi’s delivery that gives the impression he already knows. By this point, the rest of the band has joined the ensemble before launching into one of their biggest choruses released to date. It’s catchy, it’s punchy, and you know, it’ll be belted back by every single member of the audience at their upcoming tours to come. ‘Deep Cuts’ is one of those songs you can tell will be elevated to another level when performed live.
The album stumbles at the track ‘God Bless The 90’s Kids’. The intention of the track is there as a sort of look back on themselves, but the overall result seems like a pandering song to play for the younger millennials who try to be nostalgic. Regardless of this, the song has that element that just like ‘Deep Cuts’ will clearly translate a lot better live than on record.
One thing that You Me At Six have made a name for themselves at for over the years, is the use of guest vocalists, and they’ve brought none other than Rou Reynolds of Enter Shikari for the more politically tinged track, ‘No Future, Yeah Right’. Giving the finger to those who would try to stop them or anyone else get in the way of their hopes and dreams. Reynolds’ iconic voice brings the song to life towards the end of the track before joining in with yet another massive chorus. If one thing this album shows is, this band can make some of the best sing-along anthems. “My Finger Isn’t Yours To Hold!” Too right.
While for the most part, the sounds of Truth Decays have par for the course of the act, the track ‘Breakdown’ takes a turn. A much more personal song for the band, the style is much more in the vein of Post Malone rather than any of their other pop-rock contemporaries. This change of pace brings a new level of depth to the album than previous tracks have displayed. Rather than the more hopeful views that were present in ‘No Future, Yeah Right’, ‘Breakdown’ takes on a more angsty side of this anger. The side that comes out after the initial storm. The song almost works as a part two to the aforementioned track and does it fantastically.
Closing on ‘A Love Letter To All Who Feel Lost’, You Me At Six, bring out their second guest vocalist in the guise of newcomer, Cody Frost, who brings out a personal, almost intimate ballad alongside Franceschi, similar to the likes of the band’s other slow songs such as ‘Take on the World.’ Now coming onto nearly 20 years of being.
You Me At Six are still finding ways to surprise their audience with new inspirations for sounds as well as providing familiar hits for lifelong fans to cry their hearts out to at alternative clubs and concert halls. There’s one thing for certain, this band still hits hard.
Buy the album here:
https://youmeatsix.ffm.to/truthdecay.OYD
7 / 10
CHARLIE HILL