Touché Amore‘s run as one of melodic hardcore’s top bands has lasted over a decade. With every release, they have refined their sound a little more, incorporating more and more indie into their hardcore. They stand out from the scene as a group known for musical restlessness and emotional lyrics. Their latest record continues both of those trajectories, and this might be the best Touché Amore album yet.
Musically, Spiral in a Straight Line is filled with tracks that seamlessly move from one catchy bit to the next. Touché Amoré have never sounded tighter or written better riffs. Lead singer Jeremy Bolm always brings his A-game, and this is no exception. They recorded with Ross Robinson again, who produced their previous record, Lament. That has proven a potent partnership, but that isn’t a surprise. Robinson’s resume includes classic records from the Blood Brothers, At the Drive-In, and many others.
Named for the way many of us have found ourselves operating day-to-day, Spiral in a Straight Line is concerned with how we navigate our existence: moving, pressing on, and seeming to have it together but spiraling inside. The record serves as a connection point for listeners, communicating a feeling of solidarity with those living that album title.
“Nobody’s” kicks off on a characteristically catchy note but finds Bolm singing as a character who interrogates the daily performances many of us deliver. “Disasters” ramps up the tension and recalls some of their best, most desperate-sounding tracks, dealing with trying to keep anxiety at bay. “Mezzanine” is also in that vein, exploding from the second it begins, while “Force of Habit” provides a moment of calm reflection. Few groups can shift effortlessly between raging hardcore and downright pretty indie rock like Touché Amoré.
Bolm’s heart is always on his sleeve lyrically, which could be seen as an asset or liability for listeners. For me, it works. Bolm’s conviction is apparent in every word, and he is fearless in sharing. Over the past decade, many of Touché Amoré’s songs have come to have a personal significance for me as I have struggled with some of the toughest challenges of my life. The harrowing details of their record Stage Four will be familiar and nearly unbearable for anyone who’s lost someone to cancer, as I have. I do not know how Bolm can continue to play those songs live and keep it together. I can’t get through a full listen of that record without breaking down.
Bolm’s passion for film has been reflected in his lyrics before, and Spiral in a Straight Line delivers more of that on “Hal Ashby”. He examines miscommunication by drawing the lines to the characters in the legendary director’s films. It is also one of the catchiest and most memorable songs, with a towering chorus destined to be shouted back to Bolm at shows.
There are a couple of high-profile guests on Spiral in a Straight Line, too. Julien Baker returns for closer “Goodbye for Now”, a moving examination of a relationship’s end. She previously joined Bolm on the haunting Stage Four closer “Skyscraper”, and her vocals here add a haunting poignancy. Lou Barlow turns up to sing part of his classic Sebadoh song “Brand New Love” over the end of “Subversion (Brand New Love)”. The unexpected pairing of subject matters and the contrast between Bolm’s and Barlow’s voices make this the most instantly memorable song on the record.
Bolm is an expert at capturing the claustrophobic feeling of anxiety and depression setting in, and Touché Amoré’s Spiral in a Straight Line is another example of his talent as a lyricist. He’s captured some of the most traumatic events in life unsparingly. But he’s also committed to finding hope to help us get out of those darkest places, which keeps me coming back.