It might have taken a long time for ‘Peace In Place’ to materialise – almost twenty years – but the wait has been more than worth it. If anything, the wait has made the record more special and impactful. Poison The Well are one of those bands from the most precious era of metalcore who have continued to blossom, even during their time away. Some bands call it a day and their records simply become a nostalgia trip, a fond moment in time. Poison The Well called it a day and their absence widened as time passed, the thoughtfulness and unpredictability of their output becoming a prime example of how genre boundaries can be stretched. Their music has an identity, and it’s very much intact here.

Opener ‘Wax Mask’ immediately sets the tone, a barbed bruiser with eerie melodic flourishes. It’s almost a nod to fan favourite ‘Botchla’, opening with distant feedback as vocalist Jeff Moreira softly sings “I’ll change my colours and show myself out” before erupting into dark chaos. It’s a statement; they’re back, and they’ve not lost any of their bite. They keep the intensity up with ‘Primal Bloom’, driven by a hardcore energy and bookended by an earth-shattering breakdown, following it with the enormous ‘Thoroughbreds’ which puts the band’s creativity and boundary pushing nature front and centre. 

In classic Poison The Well fashion, this record isn’t afraid to switch gears and it keeps the record exciting and attention-grabbing from front to back. ‘Everything Hurts’ serves as a pit-rager in ballad clothing. ‘Drifting Without End’ is a dark slow burner, underpinned by an incredibly dense and ominous atmosphere. ‘Bad Bodies’ is a pure pulveriser, designed for one thing and one thing only; bedlam. They manage to create this incredibly unique sensation as you listen; the songs themselves feel unstable and unpredictable at times, but the pace of the record feels so carefully curated that you’re almost ready for the sudden turns.

The one-two punch that closes the record out is magical, further showing that the band have somehow managed to become more imaginative and creative with time. The structure of ‘Melted’ describes how the song structure feels, seeing elements of hardcore, grunge, metalcore, shoegaze and more merge together to create a varied and hefty punch. It perfectly tees up the album closer ‘Plague Them The Most’, closing things out with the most chaotic and furious song of their return. Littered with breakdowns, delicate interludes, blast beats, ominous melodies and more, it’s a three minute-long roller coaster ride that sums up the entire record. Ambitious, imaginative, adrenaline-fuelled bliss.

‘Peace In Place’ is more than just a return for Poison The Well. It’s a continuation of their legacy. The quality and critical acclaim of their past music set a seriously high bar for this record to leap over and, unsurprisingly, they’ve gracefully leapt over it without even grazing it. This is sure to be welcomed with open arms by their fanbase, serving as an incredibly powerful reminder of their uniqueness. For anyone yet to be initiated – the younger generations, the new breed of heavy music fans – this is going to be the perfect introduction to one of the most consistent discographies in metalcore. Say hello to your new favourite band. Again.

DAVE STEWART

They are now set to play five shows in late June and early July.

JUNE
21 NEW YORK, NY Gramercy
22 TORONTO, ON Opera House

JULY
07 LOS ANGELES, CA The Roxy
08 POMONA, CA Glasshouse
09 ANAHEIM, CA Chain Reaction

Following on from Kerrang!’s most hyped band of 2007 are London’s very own Cry for Silence. With a soon to be released debut album, much of tonight’s set is dedicated to airing tracks off the record. Unfortunately, as is often the case for support acts at metal shows, it’s a struggle to actually hear the band properly as the PA rig just doesn’t seem to accommodate for their sound. Ultimately, they end up sounding messy and confused, through no fault of their own.

Poison The Well seem ecstatic to be back onstage in London after quite some time away. With their fourth LP ‘Versions’ set the be released in under a month’s time, it’s quite an occasion too, with a fair amount of fresh material being aired amongst old favourites such as ‘Slice Paper Wrists’ and ‘Nerdy’. If a band of this calibre could be described as ‘polished’, then Poison the Well would be it.

What’s truly wonderful about this band though, is that no matter how aggressive their sound and stage show may be, they still come across as a very humble bunch of lads. When vocalist Jeffrey Morelra takes the time in between songs to thank the crowd, the support and everyone else involved for making this tour a reality, any sense of arrogance, self-righteousness and anger melts away. It’s quite a sight to see such intense aggression and honest gratitude in the same set, but PTW have it down to a tee, and it’s a sight not to be missed.

Andy R