Few artists want to write the same album over and over, but even fewer dare to reinvent their identity with each release. For what it's worth, Pierce The Veil's fifth album The Jaws Of Life hits that sweet spot: it's familiar enough to send the ageing millennials back into their emo phase, but it also offers a re-energised take on the 2000s alternative rock that will appeal to younger generations.
The Jaws Of Life follows the band's 2016 release Misadventures, which somehow still sounds brand new six years later. Will The Jaws Of Life age just as gracefully? It's hard to tell, but Pierce The Veil have utilised the most reliable tools in their arsenal to make sure that it does.
"Death of an Executioner" joins a collection of breathtaking openers, just like "Dive In" did on Misadventures (2016) and "Hell Above" on Collide With The Sky (2012). This band surely knows how to make an entrance. It is frustrating, however, that the album takes time to pick up the pace again after the initial excitement. The two singles "Pass The Nirvana" and "Even When I'm Not With You" may entertain some fans with their grunge aesthetics, but they still pale in comparison to other tracks and quickly grow boring on their own. “I'm not obsessed / far worse, I'm fine,” Vic Fuentes sings, breaking the fourth wall and capturing my first impression of this LP. This might be the first time Pierce The Veil misstepped with the singles and didn't put their best foot forward, with the exception of "Emergency Contact". But hey, maybe it's not a bad thing: if you weren't too impressed with the preview, the album only gets better from this point.
"Shared Trauma" showcases a new creative influence and the gentle and soft sound of Pierce The Veil that was never really given enough space before. The band then upholds the tradition of placing their most emotional and tender song last, but this time they might have outdone themselves with the closer. Unintentionally mirroring the fan-favourite "Hold on Till May", "12 Fractures" is flecked with sadness but elevated by growth. If just one track from this album survives the erosion of time, I hope it will be "12 Fractures".
The Jaws Of Life excels where all of Pierce The Veil's previous albums fell short. Its balanced and truly refreshing production lets you sink into the music as the songs flow seamlessly into each other. Though Misadventures, Selfish Machines (2010), and Collide With The Sky were all impressive, each delivering several instant post-hardcore classics, it feels good to finally have an album that sounds like a uniform piece of work rather than a collection of great songs that could be played in just about any order. Paul Meany, who previously worked with Twenty One Pilots, was the perfect choice for the producer on this LP.
Fuentes's distinct and immediately recognizable singing voice can sometimes overpower other elements of a Pierce The Veil song. Indeed, that's what makes the band special, but it's also nice to have the instruments more foregrounded for a change. Guitars and drums create a beautiful frame for the vocals instead of competing for your attention: you would get little from each element individually, but on The Jaws Of Life they come together in a harmonious whole. When Pierce The Veil said that they feel like a new band in a recent interview with Line Of Best Fit, this must be one of the reasons.
The San Diego trio may have taken six years to write this album, but the wait was well worth it. I can see many listeners of all ages finding comfort across its eleven songs, bridging angst and hope as they navigate personal crises. Not only did Pierce The Veil understand the assignment, but they delivered it with almost flawless execution.
