Life Thread boil under the surface with a disenfranchised angst and vulnerable emotion that feels as though its on the break of shattering as they progress through this albums 9 tracks. The band seemingly take a page from the mid 90's grunge scene to create tortured melody similar to Alice In Chains and then mix it with a touch of alternative metal, though the main focus on this release is melody and the band pour their soul out as they progress through traditional song structures that haven't been attempted in quite some time and place them in a emo/hard rock environment.

Crisp mid range vocals smudge themselves over top the music and dole out ample melody, clinging to the notes as the lyrical structure drones forward with pointed focus. A somewhat retro sound is in place as the verbal tones used feel almost Nirvana-ish and move onward to something more akin to the modern hard rock sound of today. Guitars riffs are humble and possess a moderate edge as scratchy riffs are used to push songs forward in a slow yet steady manner. Some clean picked notes are also utilized along with a few effect coated ones as well to create contrast, but for the most part the six stringed aspect of this CD is quite structure driven and doesn't take any chances to jump out at the listener. Bass is essentially the moral support for the guitar here, following the guitars lead and helping it connect with a fuller sound. Drum wise the album is once again fairly timid and the style used also directs its attention towards keeping the songs momentum in check, rather than amazing with technical expertise or dynamic flair. Some piano is also included and brings out the hues of the music and although its inclusion is sparse, it is used accordingly and helps the songs convey their sedated emotion all the more.

The band have a good handle on what they want to accomplish and attempt a handful of different ideas that are able to touch the listener when they least expect it. But it's a diamond in the rough so far as it doesn't feel like they've achieved their peak of creativity and confidence yet. The songs feel young still and although they are solid, they could benefit greatly from thicker tones overall and more cohesive playing from the band. Not too say they are a bad band, but there are times when the songs feel as though they aren't tapping into their full potential and possibly with an added touch of dynamics and a more matured sound they would take upon an epic quality that they lack at their current stage of development. Life Thread have laid out their plans and the ideas are indeed something that could attract a lot of listeners, but they will need to take some more time suffering the growing pains of writing together before the thread becomes strong enough that it can hold a more intense and captivating musical weight without fraying.
(3 / 5)