Years - Secondsmile Album Review

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Album Review

Two years after the release of the widely acclaimed first album, 'Walk into the Light and Reach for the Sky', alternative rockers Secondsmile have come back for more with a hard-hitting yet atmospheric second album, often the downfall of many bands. 'Years', a very fitting title as this band has been playing together over ten years since their early teens, strongly highlights how these young musicians have refined and improved their music in the two short years since the first album.

'Smokestacks' strongly introduces Secondsmile as a force to be reckoned with, clean guitar riffs and punchy drum beats reminiscent of bands such as Rival Schools and Cave In; whereas 'Everything and All that's In-between' uses heavier, distorted guitar solos to lull the listener into a false sense of security, before introducing emotive yet muscular vocals, like an odd mix of a leather-clad biker with a Chihuahua under his arm; against every single law regulating good music yet the expertise of Andrew Schneider has somehow made this song not only work, but works so brilliantly, I would not be surprised this is the second release from the album.

However, it seems as if every single band feels the need to add a much softer, melodic tune onto their album, and in the form of 'Good Night Sleep Tight', this is Secondsmile's possible downfall, giving a repetitive and overall dull sounding track, a thorn in the side of an album which has all the makings of a summer success.

If commercial acceptance is what Secondsmile are after, the release of 'Years' can only be a giant leap forward; the hard work of a band together for almost half of their lives is finally paying off and I can easily see Secondsmile on the road to great success, with magazine covers and headline tours just around the corner.

Jamie Hill