What I like about Poison The Well is that they’re certainly not afraid to change their sound. It’s never been a massive departure from their gutsy brand of hardcore, but more subtle. The aggressive, passionate vocals are all present and correct on this record, but it’s done at a more pedestrian pace than ‘Versions’. It’s almost more focussed than anything they’ve ever done before. On their earlier albums you got the impression the band screamed and bashed their way through their frustrations. Now they write songs like ‘Sparks It Will Rain’ which showcase a slower, more considered sound.
I guess when you get to five albums in, and have gone through as many band members as PTW have, keeping things fresh is a must. ‘The Tropic Rot’ is a good, solid record. It keeps things fresh for fans and is solid musically and lyrically. Standout tracks include the up-and-at-’em ‘Cinema’ and ‘Antartica Inside Me’. Even the slower ‘Are You Anywhere’ doesn’t sound like a fish out of water, whereas it probably would have done on any of the band’s earlier output.