NEED TO BREATHE - INTO THE MYSTERY
NeedToBreathe's album Into The Mystery is an album perfectly crafted for a trip to see the sunset whilst ‘Sittin In The Backseat’.
Just short of a year since releasing their well received album Out Of Body, NeedToBreathe have unveiled their newest work of art, Into The Mystery. The album exhibits all the traits fans of the band have come to know and love, with the added bonus of features from some iconic country singers such as Carrie Underwood and Natalie Hemby.
The album has 12 tracks which all feel anthemic, with each track you can easily envision a crowd preparing to sing the chorus into the unknown or hear it stream through the speakers whilst watching the classic moment a character discovers a newfound freedom with their partner in a Tv show. Similar to many bands, when the pandemic swept the world and changed the music scene as we know it, South-Carolina-born NeedToBreathe were forced to reschedule their tour leaving them with an entire year to play with. So they did what most creatives wished they could do - they fled to a historic house turned studio in rural Tennessee and exited a while later with Into The Mystery.
Despite there now only being three band members after the departure of Bo Rinehart, the lead guitarist and brother of frontman Bear Rinehart, the tracks sound as full as ever. From the first verse to the chorus there’s a consistent acceleration in tempo which can be found in nearly every song on the album. A trait not uncommon to folk music. The use of traditional bluegrass instruments ensures that each song maintains the upbeat but intense sound NeedToBreathe have made recognisable to fans.
The lyrics have a focus on reminiscing and discussing where the journey of life has taken us. Feelings that were prevalent in most people during the recent year. Poignant lyrics can be found at every turn on the album. There’s a nostalgia that is ignited from within when listening intently to the lyrics, especially from ‘Sittin’ In The Backseat’ and ‘Sunshine’, a yearn for the “good ol days”.
The album begins with ‘What I’m Here For’, making for a gentle entrance. The first track sets the tone for the rest of the album but fails to give too much away with its lack of change in tempo. It is also an ode to the bands values, identifying as a Christian band, NeedToBreathe have always been upfront and honest with their beliefs and their faith can be found in certain tracks. What I’m here for is a prime example of this with lyrics like ‘If we knocked on Heaven's door/I'd say, "God, I'm only human”/You'd say, "That's what I'm here for”’. The namesake second track ‘Into The Mystery’ breaks the album open with it’s Tom Petty sounding intro and tender lyrics.
The album continues as it started, with ‘Don’t Throw All The Good Things Away’ and ‘I Wanna Remember’ being notably different. With the addition of the female voices, the songs sound handmade by a love-stricken couple and are quintessential editions to the album's story of being reminiscent. The harmonious sounding track paired with the melancholy lyrics in ‘West Texas Wind’ make for a flawless ending.
Into The Mystery leaves you feeling comforted whilst simultaneously feeling empty, pining for more, exactly like the feeling you get after watching a really good movie you didn’t want to end.
Taylor Duffy
★★★★★