Wallflower are releasing their debut album ‘Teach Yourself To Swim’ on 5th June! Their retro alternative influences shine through, creating a timeless album that will resonate with the listeners.
Opening the album is ‘A Parody Of…’, a poignant track with melodic vocals. A similar vibe is heard later in the album with ‘Blood And Stone’. The song explores experiences of feeling inferior and not living up to societal expectations, it’s a heavy track to start on! Building on the energy from the previous track is freshly released single ‘Eat Away At My Heart’. The lyrics are reflective and embrace their alternative rock sound.
‘Dread’ adds a dramatic edge to the album, which is encouraged through the striking bassline. It is attention grabbing and hooks you from the start. With lyrics about regret and wanting to feel alive, it is a cathartic listen. Nearing the middle of the album is ‘Anacrusis’ and ‘Doom In Your Head’. Both tracks strike you with their passionate vocals and hard-hitting lyrics, these songs definitely dive deep.
Wallflower’s first single to be released from the album was ‘Hungry Eyes’, and it is the heaviest track so far! It is a politically driven song that touches on subjects that affect everyone. Pairing the message with the powerful vocals makes it a thrilling listen.
Following this is ‘Passer-by’ which has quite a big drop in energy compared to its predecessor. It draws more on the bands alternative sound, something that might not be for everyone.
Contrasting with this is ‘On & On’. This track is a refreshing change from the other songs on the album, the acoustic roots and raw vocals are a welcomed change! This has a similar sound to ‘The Distance’ with the heartfelt tone emphasised by the vocals.
‘Further Down’ and ‘take, take, take’ finish off the album on a high note. The dramatic intro to the final song is unlike most tracks on the album, a sound which would’ve made it a more upbeat listen as a whole.