Rating: 3.5/5 stars
It is a fantastic time to be an emo music fan. Pierce the Veil (“Misadventures”) released their first album, “The Jaws of Life,” in seven years on Feb. 10. Longtime followers may know that it is a major milestone for the band because it is the first album to be produced after former drummer Mike Fuentes was accused of sexually assaulting two women in 2017. Lead singer and brother of Fuentes, Vic Fuentes, promptly kicked him out of the band. While there has been no word of a replacement drummer, Brad Hargreaves of Third Eye Blind filled in on this record. The band has Lionel Robinson (“letlive”) as their touring drummer since last year.
“The Jaws of Life” does not disappoint in terms of aligning with Pierce the Veil’s signature sound. They know themselves and their audience, and it shows. The guitar work is still as high-caliber as ever and the track “Flawless Execution” dares to employ a sort of shoegaze-y flavor in its intro. It stands out from the rest of the songs and might be the best one of all.
For emo purists, “Emergency Contact” is packed especially full with woeful whiny lyrics that speak of death, danger and pain. It was released as a single back when the album was first announced on Nov. 11. There is also the expected dose of screamo in “Pass the Nirvana” which was released on Sept. 1 last year to further tease the album. Across 12 tracks, the group reasserts themselves as one of the top artists in their genre through a careful execution of pop-punk goodness.
In “Shared Trauma” where Fuentes sings, “We shared trauma/And nothing’s ever gonna erase it/So face it,” miserable lyrics float like clouds over a poppy and bouncy electronic tune with intermissions of piano. It is an uncharacteristically bright track against the more grunge-inspired songs like “So Far, So Fake.” The same can be said of “12 Fractures,” a softer sound featuring Chloe Moriondo (“Suckerpunch”) known for her bedroom-pop style. But the most interesting part of it all is track nine, an interlude called “Irrational Fears” which features an off-putting intercom message regarding an “emergency landing” of an aircraft. Perhaps this means Fuentes has a fear of flying.
It is a rare treat considering how this is only their fifth album. Their discography is roughly average-sized in comparison to other emo bands, such as Fall Out Boy (“Mania”) who has an eighth album coming in March. But quantity reigns over quality across the board. Vic Fuentes has taken very good care of his voice and you would never know he is 40 years old hearing him sing these new songs. If he does use Auto-Tune, it is not in great excess at all.
This band is unique in that they never try to be something that they are not and that has helped them maintain their loyal fanbase. They do not try to assume a different persona with this album and the seven-year wait was clearly worth it.
Image from Pierce the Veil via Bandcamp
