New Age Filth

 

New Age Filth

Hail The Sun’s fifth studio album, New Age Filth was released in 2021. This was my long-awaited return to the emo music that I love and can’t quite let go of. With that, I was eager to listen to New Age Filth. Dubbed as ‘swancore’ this genre features complex riffs and is a subgenre of punk rock. With no prior knowledge of swancore, this was an exceptional introduction to the genre. I can clearly hear The Mars Volta’s influence in a lot of these tracks, another band that I really like. Hail The Sun is still very distinct, putting their own spin on such a unique genre and doing so in a really artistic way. There is so much to love about this album I’m almost struggling to find the right words to describe it. During the whole run of the album I was shocked that it just kept getting better. I have relistened to this album more times than I’m willing to admit. 

With an opening track like Domino, the bar was set pretty high. This explosive song sets the stage for what’s to come. Donovan Melero is such a talented vocalist, delivering each line with so much intensity. The song reflects on the protagonist's self-destructive qualities such as addiction. He acknowledges his faults yet still struggles to grasp the impact his actions have on the people he loves. He feels cursed to inflict pain that ultimately has a domino effect onto others, leading to the very fitting title. Slander is another song that I immediately liked after my first listen. The singer takes the moral high ground, not stooping to the level of the one spreading misinformation about him. 

Solipsism hooks you in immediately with such a fiery riff. The title comes from the theory that the self is the only being that exists. This way of thinking is inherently selfish and the lyrics make it clear of the singer's lack of self awareness. I found it interesting to get this kind of perspective, the writing in the album centers around addressing faults within themselves in a profound way. Only for a few seconds, the outro is captivating, providing a seamless transition into Misfire. Transitions like these are always a lovely touch and this is by far one of my favorites. This track fully represents the loss of a sense of self, left as a presence watching over the mistakes of the past. The singer is detached from reality, faced with compulsion to be perfect. This ideal is unattainable yet they still try to meet their empty needs. The singer still lies in the belief that they deserve condemnation. I almost see Solipsism and Misfire as a collective story, representing a fall from grace and the desperate attempts to find yourself. 

Amongst all the more negative themes in the album, Made Your Mark is a welcome break from that. It covers the experience of love as two souls are drifting apart. It's very bittersweet and the lighter tones hold a lot of presence in the track. Even in heartbreak he tells his love she still made an impact on him. The gratitude he feels is at the forefront, regardless of what the future holds for them he reassures her that she’s made her mark on his life. This song is a lot tamer than the others but still is very powerful in its message. Going along with the prior themes of destruction, Parasitic Cleanse is such a dynamic post-hardcore song containing everything I’ve come to appreciate from the genre. 

The last track Punch Drunk is my favorite overall. I have come back to listen to this one the most. The lyrics are a clear reference to the Jonestown Massacre. In which Jim Jones convinced his cult followers into drinking kool-aid mixed with cyanide to join the “better world.” The added context makes this song all the more dark, even so the energetic instrumentation is what kept me going back to it. I absolutely loved the melodic bass heavy sound that is on full display during the bridge. The lyrics contain themes of escapism and a corrupted sense of unity, forcing the vulnerable to give their lives to the cult. Overall a powerful closer to the album that makes this such a fun listening experience. 

It is very clear how much passion was put into this album, in the many times I’ve listened to it I found something new to love about it. I am especially fond of how the artistic elements come together, breaking down the barrier of what is conventional. New Age Filth truly stands out as a fantastic album. Hopefully, this band will continue to shape this genre and gain the larger audience that they deserve.