Album Review: Touché Amoré – Lament (Epitaph Records)

Los Angeles post hardcore band Touché Amoré will release their fifth studio album, Lament on October 9th 2020 via Epitaph Records.

Since their formation in 2007, Touché Amoré has been burrowing through angst, alienation, cancer, and death throughout four adored studio albums. After over a decade of working through darkness, Lament, finds the light at the end of the tunnel. The album arrives as the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed 2016 release, Stage Four, which found vocalist Jeremy Bolm mourning and paying tribute to his late mother. Lament shines a light on what life for the band has been like since then, tackling themes of fragility, empathy, politics, and love while pushing forward a newfound sense of hope.

Brimming with post-hardcore energy and beginning with a delightfully passionate and uplifting Come Heroine. Touché Amoré set the bar so high from the start but to surprise of nobody, they have plenty more to give. The incredible cold dissonance of the title track, the substantial Feign and daring catchiness of Reminders.

In just a handful of tracks, Touché Amoré have made it clear that the next step in their musical evolution is one everyone will want to be part of.

Although it’s time for something a little more sombre and though-provoking with Limelight, the contrast of mellow verses against the punchy chorus so very enjoyable. Although when Touché Amoré are letting themselves off the chains as it where, it’s hard not to be bounce up and down with glee. Both Exit Row and Savoring great examples of just how wild and intense this band can get while always providing incredible moments of post-hardcore glory.

Beginning to build towards the end. A Broadcast is mellow greatness, I’ll Be Your Host is a thriller filled with energy and reflectiveness, Deflector goes pure head-banging gold and A Forecast…well, what a finale this is.

With just a piano and vocals at first, it is one of the most emotionally fraught efforts Touché Amoré have ever done. When it does heavy up, it’s just as gob-smacking and can rightfully be called one of the best tracks of the year.

It couldn’t go left unsaid.

Touché Amoré – Lament Full Track Listing:

1. Come Heroine
2. Lament
3. Feign
4. Reminders
5. Limelight (ft. Andy Hull)
6. Exit Row
7. Savoring
8. A Broadcast
9. I’ll Be Your Host
10. Deflector
11. A Forecast

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