Album Review

Summerlin – You Can’t Burn Out If You’re Not On Fire

• 14th May 2012

The debut album from Leeds rockers Summerlin is exhilarating and hopeful. It’s fast and loud and it has a message that is encapsulated nicely by the Jim Morrison quote that forms its title: take a chance and go for it. Mixing the anger of punk with the drive of post-hardcore this is an album that may not appeal to everyone in musical terms, but it you like the volume set to eleven and the speed set to hectic then you will probably love it.

This is a very mature album from a young band. All four members are in their twenties yet there is a sense of taking responsibility that comes through in their lyrics and in their music. Lead vocalist Drew Lawson did the production and engineering of the music himself, although the final version was mixed by iconic Swede Pelle Henricsson (Refused, Entombed, In Flames).

The album starts strongly with opener Let It Go having an uplifting feel, yet there is also a darkness to the song. Lawson’s vocals are typically pop-punk, slightly on the high side and powerful, and the melodies from his guitar and that of Roo Buxton are stirring.

Sink Or Swim sums up the message of the whole album. Go for it with everything you have, succeed or fail on your own merits. It’s up to you. The track starts softly before Liam Broad’s drums drive it forward, and the repetitive use of the title hammers the message home. Ben Jackson’s bass comes through very strongly on this track.

My Old Life Isn’t As Glamorous As My Webpage Made It Look is a wonderful title for a song. The vocals make this one; the multi part harmonies rising over a great guitar riff. It is followed by Growing Up Sucks, which is a little repetitive and doesn’t do a lot for me.

But the next track Vertigo is a stand out, and is sure to be a live favourite. The vocals are strong and the guitars play off each other nicely. The drums and bass are powerful, underpinning the hooks and the vocals.

Fortune And Glory, Kid is another powerful track with fast guitars and frantic drumming. United Divided is perhaps the heaviest sounding track, the guitars having more of a metal feel and the vocals strained. And then How To Spot A Compulsive Liar offers up another great title, and a typically vibrant and energetic track.

The album comes to an end with two fine songs. The one slower track amongst the ten, Easy On The Eyes, is heartfelt and well delivered. The lyrics tell of moving on and looking to the future while the guitars for once have a restrained feel. The closing title track sees the guitars of Buxton and Lawson work together to set a frenetic pace. The vocal harmonies are again excellent and the rhythm section gives the song a potency that ends the album on a real high.

Overall this is a good album. It’s passionate and powerful, with just enough subtlety to stop it from becoming too samey. The aggression that comes through in most of the tracks is controlled rather than being allowed free reign. Summerlin can be pleased with their debut album.