Twelve years ago, Saosin held open auditions to replace vocalist Anthony Green who left the band for personal reasons after only recording one EP, ‘Translating the Name’. Cover Reber would go on to take the helm, following a demo tape that sounded so similar to Green’s vocal styling, guitarist Beau Burchell thought it may have been their former singer playing a trick on them. Saosin recorded two full-lengths and a handful of EPs with Reber before parting ways. Despite the disparity of material laid down with each singer, fans still differentiate Saosin between Anthony Green and Cover Reber eras. Given the rapid success that followed the release of ‘Translating the Name’, it is no surprise the regard fans of the band still hold for the original singer.
What feels like years in the making, Anthony Green has reunited with his former band to record ‘Along the Shadow’. Those familiar with the foundation laid down 13 years ago in the original EP will immediately recognise the feeling elicited here. From the opening moments as Green exclaims, “Who holds a silver string?” the cataclysmic vocal deliveries and driving, terrific guitar riffs that cemented Saosin as a staple of the post-hardcore scene for so many years come blasting through.
Like their emotionally driven lyrical content, the track listing ranges from songs that showcase the band’s full-throttle, heavily metal influences like ‘Ideology is Theft’, ‘Counting Backward from TEN’, and ‘Illusion & Control’ to the more restrained arrangement of ‘Sore Distress’. The band said that when they got together to write this, they wanted to make something fun and have fun doing it. It’s pretty clear that they succeeded on this front 100%. There is nothing that everyone from long time fans of Saosin to those who are getting their first taste won’t find to love about this album.
Given how polished these songs sound, you would never know ‘Along the Shadow’ is the band’s first material in over 7 years. Following the lackluster ‘In Search of Solid Ground’ in 2009 and bringing Anthony Green back into the fold is a guaranteed recipe for lofty expectations. Thanks to the dedication of a band composed of people nuts for music and a revitalised Green, Saosin have never sounded better. Epitaph were smart to jump on this move because it is truly a release deserving of nothing but the devotion of the best. It should really be quite a sight to see as Saosin storm back onto stages around the world and puts this newfound exuberance to good use.
MAT STOKES