Today my friends we have what can only be described as a firecracker, this is the 11th album from our Canadian cousins Silverstein, who have now been in this murky business for 22 years. Heralding a non-conformist attitude and a thought process that will be unhindered and independent of predetermined ideas, bias and stereotypes, the band have produced a body of work that is heavy when required and also as light as a feather, respecting all aspects of our lives.
The theme is misery, and how we deal with it, do we accept it, do we endeavour to triumph over it? How does it present itself, friend or foe, oppressor or the oppressed?
The album features appearances from several guests, first up is Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid on ‘Die Alone’ on the heavier side, aggressive but with a purpose. Dual vocals add interest and an edge, not competitive but contrast and capitalising on the talents that are available to us.
Trevor Daniel features on ‘Cold Blood’, emo heaven, with that gentle slide into the chorus, ending on that unmistakable, sublime, wispy ‘cold blooded’, sigh, swoon.
A bit of divine inspiration is in ‘The Altar/Mary’ we have sacrificed so much for so little, we suffer the abuse ‘can’t have the upper class if there’s no one underneath them’ and the greedy become even more ravenous, the poor left wretched and ruined, however there is an awareness ‘I’m not blind but my hands are tied’, it’s not enough though. The pressure cooker simmers, our lives are inside it, yet we are unable to act in our own favour.
Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada offers his vocal aptitude on ‘Slow Motion’ and that punishing ‘kill me, kill me, kill me’ to finish, just a difficult yet relatable listen.
The lyric ‘fake fortunes on the backs of the unfortunate’ really sums up the present chaos we are watching unfold. Taken from the song ‘Bankrupt’ it is a fitting way to describe both the fiscal and moral corruption that has taken over.
Nothing, Nowhere features on ‘Live Like This’ a plea to ending what ails us, what torments us, to continue without any changes would be destructive and poisonous.
The showstopper finale is a ballad, where we ‘measure pain in milligrams’ we take time to reflect, to understand what ‘Misery’ means to us and how we place it in our lives. There is a restorative aspect, an acceptance, absolution, and a fluidity in our thinking to find peace, whatever form that may take.
We are the unfortunates, we are misery personified, Silverstein, we are yours.
Azra Pathan
Silverstein – Misery Made Me out now