Review by Phil Rozier for MPM
Apologies for being a little late to the party on this one, but, it takes a bit of time for an album to sink in, sometime to really digest it. Kinda like a strong peaty whiskey, you need the first couple of shots to take the edge off your tastes buds, then after a while, it becomes tolerable!
Perhaps an analogy too harsh, but, let me explain. I’m sitting listening to Snow Patrol’s new album, ‘The Forest Is The Path’, released earlier in September, whilst proudly wearing a 1979 Motörhead tour T shirt, glued together by the sweat, beer spills and spit that made it on that fateful Autumn of 1979. And no, I’m not that old, the T shirt isn’t even mine!
However, I am sadly old enough to have been around to see Snow Patrol’s rise to fame and continual presence in the world charts over the past 20 years. Their anthemic sing along chorus’s, inoffensive lyrical content, and masterful pop talent has assured them that this newest release will probably not do anything to diminish their cultural relevance for that modern era of musical genres. Far from rock, not quite pop, but sits on the tail end of guitar based indy of the late 90’s.
Opening Track ‘All’, instantly telegraphs the classic Snow Patrol sound with the slightly echoed voice, coupled with a touch of chorus and delay. Only having been to Glastonbury once, I’m not sure I’m qualified to comment, and seeing as Snow Patrol have only played once in 2004, I’m not sure they would be either! For some reason, Lightbody’s voice instantly conjures up images of billowing flags, coloured flare smoke and a unison of masses waving their arms in time to the 1/4 beat drum platform.
Chart topping ‘The Beginning’ follows, and one might be forgiven for not noticing the end of the first track and the start of the second. Occasionally being surprised by the odd graphical use of language, I was happy to let the tune tick on, as it’s pace and clarity do offer a degree of pleasing calm.
As the tracks go on, the there is a change in pace, as the slow becomes slower, but, still remains comfortingly familiar. ‘Hold Me In The Fire’ is an upbeat alteration of sound, as the drums take the lead, beefing up the speed and feeding my unexplainable need to continue toe tapping and moving to the groove.
‘Years That Fall’ returns to classic form, with clever piano mixed with solid bass lines, almost reminiscent of 80’s Sisters of Mercy.
‘Never Really Tire’ opens with a pretty moody piano, and I nearly spat out my herbal tea with the first word ‘fuck’ is sung. This isn’t the Snow Patrol I pictured that unassuming teenagers and early 20 somethings would listen to swaying in the breeze in a summer festival. Maybe I have been wrong all along – what have I been missing? The track doesn’t really alter, it continues to be moody and pretty dark, opening my mind to the fact that Snow Patrol are not the standardised sound I thought that they perhaps once were. Keep this track in mind, it’d would suit the opening trailer to a modern cult horror film, dark and twisted.
More haunting vocals, and more isolated piano for ‘These Lies’. Wanting to get into the meaning, I found myself not quite able to see the depth of the track, and then when ‘What if Nothing Breaks’, well, breaks, I’m finding myself wanting for the darker, or more update beat tracks of earlier in the album.
Closing with the title track ‘The Forest Is The Path’, what would I conclude? As a rocker, but one that appreciates all talented music, and Snow Patrol are surely talented, what impression has it left on me? Well, it’s Snow Patrol. It’s recognisably, and consistently Snow Patrol. And if you love Snow Patrol, you’ll love this newest addition, their 8th studio album. Despite fighting my biases, I recognise the expertise, and the experience these guys have. They’ve refined their art over a 20 year period, and for many, it’ll continue to deliver what’s expected. Fair play to them, and as long as they’re enjoying making it, and the fans enjoy listening to it, then I don’t see that being anything other than a good thing. Keep it up guys.
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