“There is so much beauty in being brave”
As Senses Fail begin their newest record with dissonance and a signature driving beat, fans will likely expect the classic post-hardcore sound the band has been known for since their start in 2002. This assumption, however, does not cover the complexity behind the band’s sixth studio album Pull The Thorns From Your Heart. The album is split into four intricate pieces that correlate with the Buddhist concepts of Annica & Sacca, Tisarana, Maransati and Brahmaviharas. These sections prompt listeners to debate over death, truth, impermanence, and mental peace set to rough, piercing guitar melodies and vibrant screams. You can hear just enough influence from the band’s older work in songs like “The Three Marks Of Existence” that there is no need to be nostalgic for their older stuff like “You’re Cute When You Scream”. At the same time, in more reflective songs like “Surrender” an almost atmospheric sound is created, in which Sense Fail’s growth as a band is displayed. In these more grounded tracks Nielsen’s personal journey with sexuality and spirituality comes through in lines like “I have died a thousand times, I have breathed a million breaths, but it has taken me this long to be present”. As you are taken on this journey with the band, you will feel angry, inspired, and peaceful–and will not be bored for a single second. This album pulls you through the struggle of living through hardship, uncertainty and hope by switching between drilling and calming modes of sound. By addressing the balance between new and old, the band has created a message that will keep their fans fighting and passionate.
Buy It, Stream It, or Skip It: Buy it. Pull The Thorns From Your Heart blends the concept of personal journey with the signature Senses Fail sound we love to create a brilliant album.
