Touché Amoré – Spiral In A Straight Line (2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

If any band has earned their right to a little bit of autopilot as a treat, it’s Touché Amoré. When three excellently sad hardcore records led to the devastating Stage Four in the mid-2010s, it felt like there was little the band could still say or do to truly add to their achievements. 2020’s Lament confirmed this ever so slightly: while undeniably good, the album felt like it was trying its hand at more expansive songwriting for the sake of it, rather than out of necessity. For the first time in their career, emotions didn’t exclusively serve songs: songs served songs, too.

Spiral in a Straight Line strives to strike a balance. It’s a collection of great songs, varies in pace, and is recognisably Touché. Jeremy Bolm sounds as distressed as ever, but doesn’t force his voice to places it probably shouldn’t go (let’s face it, “Reminders” was a mistake): instead, he writes some of the most instantly memorable choruses of his entire career. The vicious “Disasters” soars with anxiety and will undoubtedly pair nicely with any Parting the Sea… cuts on future setlists, while “Subversion” puts forth a gorgeously integrated Lou Barlow feature on the record’s most intricate cut – grand for the sake of it, but very enjoyable. As a whole, Spiral in a Straight Line might just be the most easily digestible Touché Amoré project yet: it’s catchy, it’s pretty, it’s not overwhelming in its trademark gloom, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Cuts like “Mezzanine” and “This Routine” could have been stretched out to hit the four minute mark, but they feel entirely effective and approachable at roughly half that runtime (still double the time of the average old school cut, mind you).

Tracklist:
1-01. Touché Amoré – Nobody’s (02:15)
1-02. Touché Amoré – Disasters (02:53)
1-03. Touché Amoré – Hal Ashby (02:55)
1-04. Touché Amoré – Force of Habit (02:55)
1-05. Touché Amoré – Mezzanine (02:07)
1-06. Touché Amoré – Altitude (03:26)
1-07. Touché Amoré – This Routine (02:35)
1-08. Touché Amoré – Finalist (02:13)
1-09. Touché Amoré – Subversion (Brand New Love) [feat. Lou Barlow] (03:17)
1-10. Touché Amoré – The Glue (02:53)
1-11. Touché Amoré – Goodbye For Now (feat. Julien Baker) (04:20)