There are some bands that don’t require introductions, but you do it anyway because they’ve been around for so long that you’d feel like a dickhead if you didn’t. So I’m here today to discuss the new album from Today is the Day called Never Give In. Do I sound less than enthusiastic? Yeah, I’m not enthused with Never Give In.

If you go back and listen to the band’s earlier work, like Supernova, Sadness Will Prevail, and the heavy as fuck In the Eyes of God, and then listen to Never Give In, it’s an almost flaccid experience.

Opening track “Divide and Conquer” is a striding giant of a song; a strong beat combined with some killer sludgy guitar riffs that bring to mind In the Eyes of God. But then they go completely Dark Wave on “I Got Nothin’” echoing the Cure and “Intentional Psychological Warfare” which goes full on Sisters of Mercy; both tracks are still grimy and sludgy, but within the nastiness is a solemn heart, particularly the latter track that sounds like a nasty divorce in progress.

The title track is like Tom Waites having a knife fight with Neurosis, it’s insanely morose and above all it’s FUCKING DEPRESSING! This is more depressing than the darkest DSBM album, if compared to bands like Happy Days and Shining… Bottom line: this album needs a box of tissues.

“Secret Police” starts off with a cool drum fill and then… the horns kick in, yes, horns! This is a killer track; it rocks hard with the horns punctuating the riffs. Steve Austin’s vocals have venom in every word that comes out of his mouth. “Psychic Wound” coalesces around this spindle of a riff; the lyrics are quiet until the song title is shouted out. It’s got this crazy build-up in the midsection that continues until the end of the song.

“The Choice is Yours” is another ode to separation. “I am the Storm” the chorus declares. There’s a female presence on the song, but it doesn’t say who ‘she’ is. Maybe there isn’t a she and it’s a band member who sounds like a woman when he sings. Who knows? It’s a good song either way.

“Pain and Frustration” is a mellow track, with some Jazzy piano creeping its way into the mix. “The Cleansing” is the last track, and it’s depressing as fuck, a song of loss and huge emotions flow out of the speakers like a black flood. “The last time you left me, I lost myself”. Fucking heartbreaking.

I’ll admit that Never Give In had to grow on me. At the beginning of this review, I was almost shitting on it, but yeah, it had to grow on me, and over the course of this review, my attitude towards it has changed drastically. I went in expecting one experience and got a totally different one, and that’s just fine with me. Today is the Day has released an emotionally draining record, which is also perfectly fine.

I recommend this wholeheartedly for the fans of Neurosis, Eyehategod, Melvins, and Converge. Never Give In needs to be in your rotation for rainy days that get you down. Pick it up and cry uncontrollably.

[Visit the band's website]

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