POINT NORTH - PREPARE FOR DESPAIR
credit: Point North PR
Point North has finally brought us the much-awaited sophomore album or rather, unleashed it on us. The album is much heavier than you may expect from the trio, Prepare For Despair has a dark streak that's satisfyingly catchy.
The band have no regrets about going for a heavier sound, in fact, it seems like the most natural progression for them. “We’ve always been an ever-changing band,” vocalist Jon Lundin shares. “Every release holds its own spot in our discography. Lately, I’ve produced a lot of heavy records. We grew up on Killswitch Engage and Underoath, and we’ve toured with a lot of heavy bands and have seen what works for us live. We wanted that energy.”
Opening with ‘Like a Weapon’ listeners will not know what to expect, especially based on previous albums. After a slight diversion, we’re propelled into a world of a harder sound, but the song almost acts like a bridge from the old material to the new. By the time we get to its abrupt ending, it is obvious, there's no going back.
Next up is the already released single ‘Psycho’ which may sound familiar as it's been doing the rounds. Vocalist Jon Lundin wrote the song about his own struggle with mental health issues, and panic attacks, and how his closest friends and family helped him cope. The panic is reflected in the music as they added a chromatic verse progression and incorporated more instrumentation and production elements to simulate that panic.
The title track ‘Prepare For Dispair’ is representative of the album as a whole. When asked about the album Ludin said: “Art mirrors the moment. There’s a ton of despair right now and everyone is questioning everything. People are sad and angry. The album’s a reflection of how I’m feeling, how the band is feeling, and probably what most of the world is feeling too. So, we’re basically saying, ‘Buckle up’.” It's certainly true that you should fasten your seatbelts for this one as it's full steam ahead.
The band is sure to be happy with the reception to the next track ‘Safe and Sound’ featuring The Ghost Inside, one of Point North's favorite artists. The song has reached number 22 on the active rock charts and is still climbing 4 months later. The song itself is meant to be for anyone who has had their space invaded and had to fight back to maintain their peace. It certainly appeals to those looking for a cathartic release.
Other songs on this record that stand out include the politically-charged ‘Recover’ and the lyrically relatable ‘Someone You Don’t Know’. The first ‘Recover’ hits hard with its powerful, explosive blast of hard rock. The band use the song to stand in solidarity with those against the crumbling access to abortions in the US, stating that; “No man has the right to tell a woman or person with a uterus what they can or cannot do with their body.” and rightly so!
The album closes with ‘Dark Days’ featuring Jeris Johnson which simply cements the place of the album as a massive step forward for the band. The growth that Point North has seen over the past few years is reflected in this record, as well as their staying power in the scene. They have now carved out a permanent place for themselves in modern rock.
Cat Wiltshire
★★★★☆