Buffalo, NY’s Rust Belt Lights released their second full length release, ‘Religion & My Ex’ through Adeline records (their first release with the label) earlier this month. The album sees it UK release through the awesome Disconnect Disconnect Records.
The album opens with âWasted Wishingâ, which is best described as typical punk rock. Strong, punchy drums carry the pace of the track, which is otherwise comprised of shouty choruses and guitar riffs.
You get the sense that this track, along with a couple of others from the record, would be huge live, but that they lose something in recording. The slower songs tend to leave something to be desired â âStolen Linesâ falls flat and fails to hold the attention of the listener, while âHow To Live Withoutâ comes across as self-pitying.
However, âHaunted Streetsâ bucks this trend â the lyrics are heartfelt without being whiny, and the militaristic drums and simple melodies fit together to draw you in through to the last note. The saving grace of this record is the closing track, âJust Wordsâ. A hard-hitting breakup anthem, it offers some of the best lyrics on the album: âWe are words that donât quite rhyme, underused and redefined.â A great choice for the album closer, it features feel-good riffs and phrases you want to shout along to.
On the whole, Religion & My Ex just feels a little too long. While there are some undeniably great hooks, and most of the songs would bear repeat listening, there is a definite sense of the tracks blurring into one another around the middle of the album â and an undeniable sense of lethargy around halfway in suggests that thereâs really no reason for the longer songs to be pushing four or five minutes long. Itâs not a bad album by any means, but it would be improved vastly if it were just that bit more concise and energetic. Itâs worth a listen, but donât be surprised if you find yourself skipping ahead â just donât miss that last song.
BECKI SMITH