Album Review: The Color Morale- Hold On Pain Ends

Date: September 13, 2014

The past two years have been very big for The Color Morale. Early in 2013 they released their biggest release Know Hope which really separated them from the generic post-hardcore/metalcore scene. The band wrote an extremely genuine album that showed the band evolving musically as well as vocalist Garrett Rapp changing his vocal approach and lyrical content. The album started almost a cult following because of Rapp's message of keeping hope when all seems to be lost. Riding the high that Know Hope brought to the band the band was signed to Fearless Records in April. They quickly got back into the studio with producer Mike Green (All Time Low, Paramore) and put together one of the best albums to be released in 2014.

Hold On Pain Ends picks up where Know Hope left off but there are definite elements to their newest release that show that the band continues to refine their sound. What makes this album so special is not just the musicality that the band displays but Rapp's lyrical content. In a scene that is starting to be referred to as "hopecore" because everyone is trying to write positive music to jump on the band wagon (no pun intended) because it's something people want to hear, TCM separate themselves by writing extremely sincere songs.

The band has always had a positive vibe but even Rapp admits that over time the message the band translates to the fans has become more serious starting with Know Hope. On Hold On Pain Ends, Rapp writes about suicide ("Prey for Me" "Suicide;Stigma"), self-harm ("Scar Issue" "Developing Negative"), abandonment, depression, and seeming hopeless. Rapp writes of having hope through all the terrible things that people go through and that there is hope. Pain is not everlasting. The songs are directly influenced by the fans and their personal stories which adds to the fact that TCM wrote this album for their fans. The band does not have a merch guy when they go on tour; Rapp works the merch table and interacts with the fans, something a lot of bands do not do. He took all of the things that fans told him at these shows and put them into these songs.

The album starts off with a punch brought on by the song "Damnaged" which sets the tone for the rest of the album. Really heavy verses with Rapp's very unique screaming that resolve into a big beautifully melodic choruses. The choruses on this album are very impressive, showing the band are versatile and not just a band capable of chugging breakdowns. The songs "Outer Demons" and "Between You and Eye" are perfect examples of catchy four-on-the-floor choruses that I could picture in a sports montage.

By far the catchiest song on the album, "Prey for Me" is the standout track on an album full of top notch songs. This one will get stuck in your head. The song has such a great atmosphere brought on by an echoey piano intro, big drums, a solid guitar lead, fitting gang-vocals, and Rapp's beautiful vocals. It is one of the more melodic songs on the album but it contains a nice heavy section that fits in perfectly right in the middle. Chills are brought on by an interlude in the song where Rapp sings a few lines over the repeated piano intro before leaping back into one more chorus. If you can't afford to pick up the whole album and can only afford a song or two this is a definite purchase.

An aspect of this album that separates itself from the band's previous release is that there are a few songs on the album that feature just clean singing throughout the song. Although there were some great clean sections sang by Rapp on Know Hope it showcased more of his new screaming approach while Hold On Pain Ends expresses that as well as Rapp's refined clean singing voice. Tracks such as "Throw Your Roses" and "Scar Issue" feature exclusively clean vocals, while "Is Happiness a Mediocre Sin" and "Prey for Me" are predominantly clean vocals. Also the inclusion of an interlude track makes this release unique to the rest of their discography. The interlude "The Ones Forgotten by the One Forgetting" has a very nice ambient synth and atmospheric guitar while Rapp's voice has a cool distortion effect on the clean vocals that really gives this track a cool vibe.

Another facet that adds to the record is the features on "Suicide;Stigma" and "Developing Negative." Dave Stephens (We Came as Romans) and Craig Owens (Chiodos/D.R.U.G.S.) sing on the tracks respectively and they really elevate the two tracks to another level. Owens comes in late and lays down some nice clean vocals before ending with a nice shriek. Dave Stephens' comes in and completely tears up the second verse of "Suicide;Stigma" before giving a majestic roar into a brutal breakdown. The song would definitely feel like it was lacking something without Stephens on here.

The most interesting part of the album is by far the title track which is an acoustic track. It's the first acoustic track they've put on a record, but the band has become known to play an acoustic set outside of venues after their shows for the fans that stick around. It's very well-constructed and Rapp tells the listener why giving up is not an option. The track reminds me of A Day to Remember's song "If It Means A Lot to You" because of how the whole song is acoustic until the end when you're hit by a wall when the whole band jams the last chorus. The coolest part of the song is the final chorus which was sang by the band along with fans who won a contest the band held to sing on the song.

The instrumentation on this album is very well organized and all of the members pull out everything they got. The guitar work on here is by far the best the band has had. Devin King and Aaron Saunders put together some amazing parts writing everything from extremely heavy breakdowns, fast hardcore riffs, and beautiful clean ambient atmospheric parts. There absolutely should have been a guitar solo on "Is Happiness a Mediocre Sin." It feel like it was coming and would've been completely appropriate for the track. The rhythm section made up by drummer Steve Carey and new bassist Mike Honson brought an awesome groove to many of the tracks. Carey shows his chops throughout playing some really intricate parts and interesting rhythms while also showing his ability to fit the more straightforward choruses and mellower material. So many of these songs had such an incredible bouncy feel to them all credit to Carey and Honson.

This is by far one of the best releases of 2014 and is definitely an album you need to give a listen to. The Color Morale prove they're the real deal with Hold On Pain Ends.

Please note that all review opinions are the opinions of the writer's alone. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of those at WSOU 89.5 FM, Seton Hall University, or any of its affiliates.

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