Forever Came Calling – What Matters Most
Review by Trevor Figge
Forever Came Calling has been busting their tooshies in the scene for what seems like years. In fact no less than four years ago Forever Came Calling was on Fuse.TV’s ‘Warped Diaries’ telling their grueling tale of being flat broke sleeping in a van and barely having enough money to make it from show to show at warped tour just to sell CD’s. That’s right they were hustling and going to every warped tour just to stand outside the gates and give CD’s out to the music fans in line. This is a band that loves music and more importantly loves making and playing music that moves you physically and emotionally.
What Matters Most is the second full-length release for Forever Came Calling. It sticks to their formula of fast, and hectic pop-punk. Their songs have always had a certain ‘bouncy’ quality to them; maybe it’s the fast passed vocal rhythm that is uniquely theirs, the tom driven drum parts, or the overall rhythmic choice the band has made to rely on up-beats/off-beats. Regardless Forever Came Calling has done an amazing job of crafting their sound into an extremely unique sound.
Songs like “Transient (I Don’t Miss)” and “Indebted” have me falling for the way that Joe Candelaria twists his words around the guitars, slithering into my eardrums. But it’s not just his vocal rhythm that grabs my attention, but it is the picture he pains with his words that helps me relate.
What Matters Most is a very well crafted album, housing songs that are sure to become staples for Forever Came Calling. But sadly there are down parts of the album for me, however the parts of this album that I’m not totally thrilled about I’m certain others will grab a hold of. For example the acoustic track “Endangered Innocence” just seems out of place and to cute and the ‘bar track’. “Rather Than Be Dead Than Cool” at first was an instant hit with me, but upon the 5th or 6th listen it lost it’s cool factor for me. Regardless though both of the songs have their redeeming qualities, “Rather…” had me nodding my head and tapping my toes and would be the perfect song to use in order to introduce a friend who likes the more pop oriented pop-punk to Forever Came Calling.
But the most notable thing, is that despite the two songs on this album that were ‘out of place’ (in my opinion), I still found my self wanting to listen to What Matters Most whenever I found myself with some spare time, because it leaves you begging for more with a fast in your face punk tune, “Wish You Well.” Followed up by “Angels In Your Closet,” which is quite possibly the best tune that they’ve written. Joe voice is angst ridden yet extremely sincere. You can tell he’s hurting and that he has come so far with his grieving, yet he’s still a little jaded.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Suggested Tracks: “Angels In Your Closet”, “Transient (I Don’t Miss)”
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