POINT NORTH - BRAND NEW VISION
Alex shares their thoughts on the debut Point North release, Brand New Vision, and lets you know whether they think you should listen or not.
Point North is taking the world by storm, growing fast, and gaining a community worth getting into. Their fanbase is some of the sweetest, most kind-hearted people someone could find on the internet, and are very supportive of the band and their endeavors such as the release of their debut album, Brand New Vision. The album, released via Hopeless Records, is the first full-length album from the band, and fans are just as ecstatic as the band, even attending a virtual album release party.
The first track on the album is the title track, ‘Brand New Vision’ featuring DE’WAYNE who has recently signed to Hopeless himself. The track is also the first single released when the band had announced the new album, and this brought a ton of more people in to see what the band was about. The song almost sounds like one out of a teenage romance movie, instrumentally, and packs a chorus that hits with listeners, and will leave them humming the tune long after their first listen. The song contains the theme of having put yourself down, but having finally found a new way of view and seeing the good in yourself.
‘Into the Dark’ is arguably the song most new fans know the band for. Featuring Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens, the band had recently toured with Quinn and his band on the Medicine tour. Many found the band that way, and the collaboration was played every night on tour. The song is full of powerful melodies between singers Jon Lundin and Kellin Quinn, and is the perfect song to bring new listeners into what’s to come.
For a slightly softer track, ‘Personal’ hints at the sense of being so invested into someone but they bring you down. The person telling the story in the song is worried that they are unable to fix what has happened between them and the other person, and the instrumentals perfectly compliment the lyrics in which they are meant for.
The guitars in the beginning of ‘Lethal’ are incredible, and can send a sense of nostalgia into any listener. The slow calming guitars lead perfectly into the chorus of the song and continue in the background all throughout the song. The song touches on the idea of going through problems and putting them behind you in order to move on and take your life back.
‘Apologue’ is a more pop side of the album, and includes a wonderful drum beat by drummer, Sage Weeber, and the drums accompanied by the guitar lead perfectly into the chorus, which is softer. The chorus, upon first listen hits hard in the heart, and the line ‘I'm a waste of your time, just another goodbye’ is one that sticks way after the first listen.
To add another slow track, ‘Distant’ adds a sense of fear, and can resonate to those who are having to leave others for things like work, or other things. The song touches on the fear of never seeing that person again. This song can also resonate with the band’s tour life, and leaving their families, and creates the aspect of not wanting to leave what they have.
The album closes with ‘Be the Same’ and includes a strong opening then softer synths with Lundin’s vocals and instrumentals, then the chorus hits and in a powerful tone, Lundin sings about not wanting to be the same as others, saying he’s ‘not what’s on the surface’ hinting that there’s more to him that originally meets the eye. Lundin also sings about wanting change in the current life he’s living, and the song closes as the sounds of the guitar ring out and make for a perfect end to the album.
Overall, the album has done an amazing job at showing new listeners what the band is capable of. Due to vocalist Jon Lundin being able to record the album himself, the band decided to take $10,000 from their recording budget to match fan donations to No Kid Hungry, a child poverty charity.
Showing their diversity as artists, it’s an absolutely incredible debut album, and seeing them live is absolutely no different. The energy they bring to the stage is definitely one to live for. Incredible production, composition, and songwriting make this an album to definitely come back to!
Alex Davidson
★★★★★