Singer and guitarist Brian Sella and drummer Mathew Uychich, known collectively as American lo-fi folk-punk outfit The Front Bottoms, took a sizeable creative risk with their previous album Going Grey, which they uncharacteristically packed with synths. It was a fine album, but their seventh release, In Sickness And In Flames, finds us back in familiar territory.

For anyone not familiar with the duo’s output to date, that territory tends to be smart and well-observed lyrics about everything from relationships, breakups, and early to mid-life anxiety to drug abuse and break downs, mixed with a large dose of humour, set to tight, sometimes acoustic, emo-tinged indie.

Produced by Mike Sapone, In Sickness And In Flames is a record that sticks unapologetically and joyously to that familiar blueprint.

Opening track everyone blooms explodes out of the gates, a cacophonous mix of crunching drums and guitars, with Sella repeating the refrain “My attitude, my outlook / I realise it now matters”, feeling like a tongue in cheek swipe at the criticism aimed at millennials around the world.

Camouflage and jerk are both huge, radio-ready smashes, and they merge nicely together, while montgomery forever is another intensely catchy affair ready to take over the airwaves. New song d builds from a looping electro intro into a wonderful singalong that captures the feeling of live music, which is a welcome thing in these restricted Coronavirus times, while closing track make way adds a chilled out, introspective dynamic to the record.

For newcomers to The Front Bottoms, In Sickness And In Flames is a good a point as any to jump in: a gleeful introduction to the band’s work that is up there with their many highlights. For experienced fans, there’s nothing here that outright changes the game, but die-hard fans may well welcome the move away from Going Grey’s synth sounds and back to the band’s roots.

Watch the official video for montgomery forever here.

In Sickness And In Flames tracklist:

1. everyone blooms

2. camouflage

3. jerk

4. the truth

5. montgomery forever

6. the hard way

7. leaf pile

8. new song d

9. Fairbanks, Alaska

10. love at first sight

11. bus beat

12. make way

 folk       punk 

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.