Following the success of their singles “Sink Or Swim” and “Young And Reckless” leading up to this moment, Amber Pacific has just delivered the sweetest Valentine’s Day gift: their brand-new album, All In. The 12-track collection marks their first full-length release in 11 years, following 2014’s The Turn.
All In bridges the gap between nostalgia and a fresh new chapter for AP. The record sees the band fully embracing their roots while evolving with a refined, matured energy. Whether you’ve been following Amber Pacific since The Possibility And The Promise or you’re just discovering them now, All In showcases their evolution, experience, and unwavering dedication to the alternative community. This album isn’t just a return—it’s a refined celebration of everything that has made the band a staple in the scene.
idobi Radio caught up with Amber Pacific to bring you an exclusive track-by-track breakdown curated by vocalist/guitarist Will Nutter. Dive into the stories behind each song and stream All In below.
“Sink Or Swim”
This is our lead track for a reason: it’s a sound that resonates with AP of old but introduces something fresh as we layered intricate guitar parts and stacked vocals. The song can be a reference to relationships, but it can also be a reflection on the last 20 years as a band and the uncertainty that lies ahead, ultimately carrying an underlying message to stay positive and keep moving forward.
“Young And Reckless”
When I wrote this song, I wanted to focus on writing something fun, something I could see the crowd singing back to us. Lyrically, it is a nod to the very feeling we have in those moments, something that is unmatched, that is unique to being in our position and having made the impact that allows us to continue making music and playing shows.
“The Conqueror”
This is an anthem for our band. Things haven’t always been easy, yet we have always found ways to overcome everything the industry throws at us. We are resilient, and this song basically says, “This is what we do, and we’ll do it despite not ever truly being accepted as such.”
“Afloat”
Rarely do we collaborate on songs but this song we simply couldn’t pass up. Our producer, Sean Rogers, showed us a demo of this, something he had written a while back, and we immediately fell in love with it. The pre-chorus brings you in, and we were able to bring in Sebastien Lefebvre (Simple Plan) to add guitars. It really came together, and we’re thankful Sean lent it to Amber Pacific to perform.
“Meant To Be”
ABSOLUTE BLAST. This song had Irish Jig written all over it, it was commonly referred to as “The Flogging Molly Song.” We really leaned into that during the recording process with instruments I didn’t even know existed. It captured that vibe and so much more and is one of my personal favorites on this album.
“Unbroken”
This song was one of the most challenging in terms of how we approach it. I wrote it as an acoustic ballad, but obviously, the end product was quite the opposite. Sean and Matt spent some time in the studio trying out a few different versions of it and felt it needed the energy to drive the point home. We made a few tweaks to the bridge and ultimately ended up with a song that rocks from start to finish.
“The Good Life (Matt’s Version)”
We knew we wanted to tap into our third album, Virtues, at some point. For the longest time, fans have been asking to hear these songs reimagined with Matt’s vocals which is exactly what we did. “The Good Life” was in the running to be our first single on Virtues, so we felt it was fitting to revisit it and while not exactly the same sonically, it turned out great. Matt did a fantastic job with it.
“The Honest Truth”
Another venture to bring something new to the mix. This song was referred to as “The Goldfinger Song” and we referenced Simple Plan’s “Summer Paradise” to capture the feel of how we wanted it to sound. It was a big step outside of the box for us. We’ve only written a few swing-type songs but never ventured into the ska world, in which the clean guitars throughout paired with the percussion, but Dango did a great job capturing the vibe. Super fun and another personal favorite on the album.
“SOS: TONY FREAKING LOVATO”
We recently finished up a small run with Mest. Mest was a band that had a huge influence on me as a writer when I started, so to have an opportunity to tour with them, I knew I had to ask Tony if he’d be open to making a guest appearance. The timing worked out great, and he was happy to help. The acoustic demo I made of this song was one that really caught the attention of our producer, Sean Rogers.
I think we all knew that it would be one of the strongest on the album and will most likely see the light of day as a single at some point down the road. In terms of meaning, Matt said it best when we wrapped the song. I believe he said, “Put me in a straight jacket and a padded room, I’m ready,” which really summed up the overall feel and message of the song.
“One Step Away”
Absolute desperation. Standing on the edge of something immense is the best way I can describe this song. We wanted it to be dark and aggressive. The guitars were dropped to C#, and away we went. It’s somewhat of a nod to some of the earlier bands I loved, like The Early November or Senses Fail. Though the song itself isn’t that far outside of our normal sound. If I were to compare it to anything we’ve done, “Thoughts Before Me” comes to mind.
“Just Friends”
This is a classic nod to your typical sad relationship song, but the music really lifted it. Guitars, drums, it all came together and turned out to be one of the poppier tracks on the album. The second pre-chorus is fire, and we’re all excited to play this song live. It will translate to the live show really well.
“The Hero Or The Villain”
A sister song to “The Conqueror,” in some ways, this is another absolute anthem for us heavily influenced by Rise Against. Sean did such a great job capturing the strength of the song and the power of the lyrics. The chorus is massive and stacked with vocal on top of vocal on top of vocal. It reminds me of the “oohs” and “aahs” you hear in the background of Bad Religion songs or Sum 41. There is a sense of urgency to this song and it truly lends itself to the title, All In. In the end, we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished. We want to keep the fire lit as long as we can and will continue writing as long as our fans continue to listen.
