Expect the unexpected from Thursday
It probably shouldn't come as any surprise that Thursday are from the town that spawned Taking Back Sunday and Midtown; Listen to 'A City By the Light Divided' and you'll hear remainders of the emo/screamo scene that's dissolving. Melodic riffs nestle next to urgent vocals as one of the scene's original bands tries hard to distance itself from the scene. This time a more dramatic and grandiose theme takes shape borrowing from as varied bands as Deftones and Lostprophets - it's a great effort.
It's a shock when 'The Other Side of the Crash/Over and Out (of Control) starts up: it's loud and ferocious but there's no screaming. Instead, the 80s creeps into the tune and a distorted chorus gives of vibes of the Deftones' later stuff. So it's messy and there are probably too many ideas crammed in, but that doesn't mean it's not immediate and affecting. Current single 'Counting 5, 4, 3, 2, 1' grabs you by the hands and spins you around faster and faster. Let your emotion fall and swell with this call to arms - it's got anthem written all over it.
'Sugar in the Sacrament', on the other hand, is slower and deliberate and sounds really great through headphones. It's one that grows on you slowly until you realise you've fallen in love with it. That seems to be the effect of most of this record, until 'At This Velocity' literally slams into life with the hardcore we've come to expect from Thursday. Lyrically, it's all about despair and crashing to the ground - a major preoccupation it seems. 'Telegraph Avenue Kiss' and 'Lovesong Writer' carry on the theme of despair this time with a far more melancholy bent. It still rocks out and there's more than a touch of a ballad about it. However, before you know it, 'Into the Blinding Light' takes 'The Other Side of the Crash...' and puts a different spin on it. It's crazy and passionate and one of the best songs on the album.
At the same time, there's something of an upbeat feel to the record with the likes of 'We Will Overcome' and 'Running from the Rain'. Both are totally atmospheric and before you know it you're swept up in the uplifting beats and melodies and this where the Lostprophets sound starts coming in.
There are songs on here for every mood and Thursday have gone the extra mile to give us an album that doesn't just ride on past glories. Uplifting, downbeat, anthemic, sad, angry, 'A City by the Light Divided' is a must-have for any discerning music fan.