Balance & Composure – Separation

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“Tear it down, break down every wall,” frontman Jonathan Simmons rasps on ‘€œGalena,’€ the sixth track from Balance and Composure’s most recent offering Separation. And really, that could act as the five-piece’s manifesto, given that it’s exactly what they’re doing to everyone’s preconceived notions of what pop-punk should be. There are no glitzy, overproduced tracks or predictable breakdowns on Separation, the group’s first full length since they came together in 2007. Instead, Balance and Composure have rounded out their already complex sound into twelve robust tracks that alternate between meandering monologues and hard-hitting punches to the gut.

In all likelihood, this probably isn’t the record fans were expecting’€”not that that’s a bad thing. ‘€œVoid’€ kicks off the album in melodic fashion with reserved, ominous guitars. And the group is still at their best on tracks like ‘€œPatience,’€ and ‘€œI Tore You Apart in My Head,’€ where Simmons’ oft-reserved voice explodes with raw emotion. While much of Separation is filled with the familiar themes of isolation and disillusionment, B&C take an unanticipated turn for the positive on tracks like ‘€œGalena.’€ (Well, maybe positive isn’t the right word. But at the very least, the album periodically sounds hopeful.) That’s not to say that it’s free of clunkers; ‘€œMore to Me’€ stretches on a bit longer than it needs to, and ‘€œEcho,’€ well, it pretty much just echoes. And sure, the pop-punk standards are here: there are more than enough angst-soaked choruses on Separation, and gang vocals make a quick appearance on closing track ‘€œDefeat the Low.’€ But the many great tracks buoy those that falter, and time-worn pop-punk staples aren’t the norm but rather an occasional murmur of reverence to those who influenced Balance and Composure’s haunting take on the style.

While Separation is bound to spark mixed reviews, it’s an intriguing album ‘€“ pensive and spacey without losing any of that frenetic punchiness and raw energy that helped Balance and Composure turn heads in the first place. Separation demands attention from the first haunting note, and earns it with brooding melodies and captivating storytelling.

Recommended Tracks: I Tore You Apart in My Head, Patience