156/Silence - Narrative LP (Clear w/ Black & Bone Splatter)

A soundtrack for those whose story and struggles are seldom reflected in the glossy pages of life's shining field guide for success, 156/Silence's impassioned soliloquy stands apart, skirting the shallow pool of false pleasantries and descending deeper into the ominous yet hauntingly beautiful ruminations of a frustrated conscience. As a work distinctly designed for the downtrodden and built to be shouted from the center stage spotlight, it's fitting that the Pennsylvania quintet's latest album Narrative is dedicated not to the inspirational paragons of light and virtue, but to the often-unexplored reality of those frequently left alone and empty-handed on a far less forgiving path. Written around two years ago during the height of the global standstill that left the band and many of their peers reeling with a culmination of mixed concerns and inspiration alike, Jack Murray (vocals), Jimmy Howell (guitar), Ryan Wilkinson (guitar/vocals), Kyle O'Connell (drums), and Lukas Booker (bass)