Almost exactly three years ago, Neck Deep flipped the script with their massively successful album, The Peace and the Panic and now they’re back to forge ahead with their newest release, All Distortions Are Intentional. Taking a page from the melodic, poppy sounds from The Peace and the Panic, All Distortions Are Intentional finds the band not only expanding on their already well-established sound even more, but also stepping outside of their comfort zone lyrically and thematically. While admittedly, the band’s previous work focused heavily on “singles”, All Distortions Are Intentional is a clear concept album, following the story of a main character named Jett, who finds himself feeling disconnected and disillusioned until he meets his love interest, Alice. The album follows Jett’s story as he falls in love and struggles to find his own identity and meaning and purpose in life, making for the band’s most thematically sold release to date.
Opening the album is the epic first track, “Sonderland,” which serves as the perfect tone-setter not just sonically for the songs that follow, but the story itself. High energy, catchy as hell and incredibly warm and bright, “Sonderland” easily flows into “Fall” and “Lowlife,” which introduce the album’s love interest. Both songs are the perfect embodiment of meeting someone and quickly falling head over heels.
All Distortions Are Intentional isn’t just about falling in love, though. Songs like “Telling Stories” and “Sick Joke,” for instance, are some of the most relatable cuts on the album, with “Telling Stories” touching on feelings of disenchantment while the anthemic “Sick Joke” will certainly hit home with everything going on in the world right now. Serving as the perfect contrast to the frustrated “Sick Joke” is the following love song, “What Took You So Long?”, which hosts lines like, “I was not me until I discovered you,” and “I found some bliss in our significance”. Falling in the same vein is the album’s second to last song, “I Revolve (Around You)”.
Due to its overarching theme, All Distortions Are Intentional plays incredibly well. From start to finish, the album really does feel like a story, which makes for a very enjoyable and easy listen. By the time it comes to an end, you’re going to want to hit repeat all over again. To put it simply, this is Neck Deep at their strongest; complete with catchy hooks, memorable choruses, incredibly vulnerable lyricism and a relatable storyline, All Distortions Are Intentional has everything that makes a great album.
LISTEN TO: “Sick Joke” or “I Revolve (Around You)”
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