Boston Manor
Welcome To The Neighbourhood
Release Date: September 7, 2018
Genre: Alternative/Rock
Label: Pure Noise Records
Review by Jared Stossel
English five-piece Boston Manor have returned two years after the release of their debut album, Be Nothing, to bring forth the advanced and succinct Welcome To The Neighbourhood, a giant step into the deep waters of alternative rock. Opening with the somber eponymous title track, the Blackpool band slowly ease into what's to follow in the thirteen-track offering.
"Flowers In Your Dustbin" brings forth chugging alternative rock and a powerful chorus that appears to touch on the pressures of toxic relationships with lyrics like "If I'm a flower in your dustbin, then you're the pesticide on me." "Halo" touches on the seriousness of drug addiction, an all important and not-as-talked about topic in today's society. The anthemic "England's Dreaming" keeps things going before moving into "Funeral Party", one of the album's standout tracks that's a full-on assault of alternative rock prowess, both lyrically and musically. "Digital Ghost" brings forth one of the catchier tracks on the album, while "Tunnel Vision" brings forth a rather intense look back at relationships of the past.
It's clear that with every track on this album, vocalist Henry Cox is digging through emotional baggage to capture as much raw intensity and emotion in his lyrics as humanely possible. This is an honest record, one that pulls absolutely no punches and will leave you feeling as though you've been through an emotional roller coaster by the end of the melancholy, mournful "The Day That I Ruined Your Life." The track builds up gradually until crescendoing into an impactful chorus. Simply put, Welcome To The Neighbourhood will make you feel.