Canada's finest, Comeback Kid, returns with a brand new record titled "Heavy Steps" on January 21 2022. The band's seventh studio album, the second to be released on Nuclear Blast records, is the follow-up to 2017's "Outsider", and is indicative of the heavier direction CBK started talking in the recent years. With a prolific career spanning over two decades, the Winnipeg outfit has reached veteran status in their scene and is revered by both old-school and younger hardcore fans. The band's success is due to two factors; their energetic live shows and the consistency in their releases. And while it's true that they don't have that trademark sound, they have some very recognizable elements to their music which are present in every release. "Heavy Steps" picks up heavily where "Outsider" left off, with metallic overtones, heavy hardcore moments and punk influences spicing the mix even more.
Two of the singles open the album, namely the title track and "No Easy Way Out", and then we are met with "Face The Fire", which combines elements from both the "Symptoms & Cures" and "Turn It Around" eras, filtered through a modern perception. The third single, "Crossed", featuring Joe Duplantier of Gojira, follows and as expected leans on the heavier side. We're talking about a pure pit hit and arguably one of the most intense songs CBK has ever written. "Everything Relates" relies on more upbeat patterns while "Dead On The Fence" continues on the aggressive approach, employing trademark CBK elements and combining them with a thunderous breakdown. In "Shadow Of Doubt", "True To Form" and "In-Between", an unbridled hardcore punk element is introduced and once more we are met with some old-school CBK parts that are guaranteed to engage kids in friendly violent dances. "Standstill" is a personal favorite, with a strong anthemic vibe, while "Menacing Weight" which closes the record consolidates all the components we've seen so far and ensures that this new collection of tunes goes out with a bang.
I think my biggest complaint about "Heavy Steps" boils down to two points; one, that much like "Outsider", which introduced bigger melodic choruses and singalongs, it feels to lack a certain balance between the songs. Comeback Kid has always had melodies complementing the rough edges of their sound and that's an inherent ingredient of their craft. Maybe it's the choice of the tracklisting that doesn't allow this to translate well in my ears, seeing as the songs on their own are structurally solid. The scale is -predictably- tipped on the heavier sounds but the punkier songs seem to exist mainly for the sake of, not so much variety but compromise. I would assume that this all would make sense if there were two songwriting teams, the OG CBK writers and the Living With Lions camp. And while the compositions do -quite successfully if you ask me- bring out the best of both worlds, this is the furthest they seem to go, which leads me to my second argument. Comeback Kid plays safe once again within the confines of a sound they know they are bloody good at creating. They don't take a dynamic step forward towards experimentation or even a suggestion of change. And don't get me wrong, I too tend to be absolute when it comes to change especially with my favorite bands, but what baffles me is that, with all the side bands/projects and various sounds the members of the band dabble in, CBK appears almost, well, statically comfortable. And granted, hardcore bands very rarely reinvent the wheel or their sound for that matter, but this melting pot is proven to have a ton of potential which they seem to not be exploring.
Overall and to wrap things up, "Heavy Steps" is a high-quality album. It's one more milestone in the band's legacy and continues the sonic era that started with "Outsider". Catchy, groovy and aggressive, it is a hardcore record through and through, and a true testament to Comeback Kid's craftsmanship .
8/10
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