Back to Higher Ground,
The Briggs
It’s incredibly refreshing right now to hear an album which is honest and passionate, in all the right places. ‘Back To Higher Ground’ is The Briggs’ third album and while it may not sound very original, it’s solid and satisfying.
One thing I like about this album is that the band wear their influences firmly on their sleeves, with obvious comparisons being Dropkick Murphys and Rancid. What the band seems to be very good at however is writing great sing-a-long choruses, in a style which reminds me very much of Bouncing Souls, especially the new record. Opener ‘Back To Higher Ground’, is a perfect example of a catchy vocal melody line coupled with a simple but effective guitar riff. Next track ‘Let Them Know’ is another solid effort which highlights a certain style that is evident in many street punk bands – no nonsense song structure and brash but listenable vocals. The Briggs however, refine this style which results in a much more radio friendly sound, without sounding over polished.
The rest of the album follows a similar formula, with plenty of other times to throw your fist in the air. However, the formula starts to get a little stale towards the end, until ‘My Own Enemy’ hits your ears, which could possibly be the song of the album. The main problem is that each song seems to follow a similar pattern and a very similar tempo. The reggae breakdown on ‘Blacklist’, while welcomed, isn’t enough change to keep the album exciting.
On the whole, The Briggs are a competent band that can regularly churn out a really good tune. Their problem is consistency, but for DKM and Rancid fans, this album is well worth a look into.
Andrew C
