Review by Nina Schirmer
There has been a lot of excitement about You’re Not You Anymore this summer. Counterparts played a couple of their new songs throughout this year’s Warped Tour and it was obvious that this album was going to be one of their biggest yet. The band took on a unique approach and set out to capture the best of their sound throughout these songs.
The album starts off slow with a beautiful introductory track titled, “Walking Away Slowly.” The track slowly pulls you into the album as it prepares you for the intensity that lies ahead. The feedback of the guitars slowly builds up as the album kicks into “Bouquet.” The powerful vocals of Brendan Murphy strike along with the heavy guitars as they blend together with the pretty lead guitar creating the Counterparts sound fans have come to know. The song has a perfect balance of heavy and pretty but with the additional backing vocals in this track, it is ten times more hard hitting. The next song, “Arms Like Teeth” builds up into a wild sound where quick drum fills take the lead. The song gets even heavier as it goes on, with the guitars slowing into dynamic breakdowns while the vocals continue to intensify. The emotions behind every word sung resonate as Murphy screams, “Carry me forever in your heart.”
The fourth track on the album, “No Servant of Mine” is incredibly fierce and epic. The heavy chorus is lightened with the swift lead guitar gliding in the background. The following song, “Haunt Me” is aggressive with layered vocals that amplify the screams and emotion throughout the song. The album keeps up it’s quick pace as it moves into the next track, “Swim Beneath My Skin.” The lead guitar riffs continue to shine throughout each track but Counterparts get really slow and heavy towards the end of this track. The tempo changes throughout the seventh track, “Thieves” are almost difficult to keep up with but in the best way, making this quick one minute and sixteen second song out to be a possible crowd favorite.
The eighth track on the album, “Rope” is lyrically sharp and will give you goose bumps as Murphy sings, “I know your rope was made for me.” The next song, “A Memory Miss Lead” has a unique sound for a Counterparts song. They added an interesting twist to their chorus in the way that is is sung and delivered that’s rather catchy. The second to last track, “Fragile Limbs” has a really pretty ending that transitions perfectly into the final track on the album.
“You’re Not You Anymore” brings everything to a close. The intensity throughout the lyrics and instrumentals sum the album up perfectly as it finishes with Murphy screaming, “But you’re not you anymore.” This brand new Counterparts album is absolutely electrifying. Every song has so much life and is incredibly vibrant, making You’re Not You Anymore yet another shining release.
LISTEN TO: “No Servant of Mine” or “Arms Like Teeth”
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