Ways Away is a punk rock band hailing from California. Some of you may know them as the side project of Stick To Your Guns vocalist, Jesse Barnett, but Ways Away, born within the American hardcore scene, is in reality the epitome of a supergroup, whose members include drummer Jared Shavelson (Boysetsfire, The Hope Conspiracy), guitarist Sergie Loobkoff (Samiam, Racquet Club) and bassist Ian Smith (Racquet Club). Their sophomore LP, "Torch Songs", is introduced to the world on October 14 2022 via Barnett's label, Other People Records.
Consisting of 11 tracks, "Torch Songs" is quite a lively album, where the more upbeat rhythm brilliantly meets some introspective traits. The first thing I noticed right away was Jesse's singing voice, shining in all its familiar glory, breaking away from the almost lethargic lower register he employs for Trade Wind. And I fucking love it! Ways Away calibrate the compositions in a way that any added element creates a wholesome sound. On "Heaven's Lathe", for instance, one of the more melodic tracks on the album, it makes perfect sense to have Jeremy Bolm of Touche Amore contribute some lines over the more terse part of the track, with his trademark raspy singing juxtaposing Barnett's controlled grit. On "The Only Boy Living In LA" and "Burn me Out" the guitar lead is endearing and, combined to the catchy vocal melody on the chorus, it will keep ringing in the listener's ears, while "Happy With What I Have" and "Roll Back To You" unveil a more contemplative character.
"Torch Songs" isn't a complex album, which I really appreciate. The skate punk leads, prominent bass and the spirited drums follow a recipe of simplicity, allowing the songs to flow nicely. It's the kind of album you'd have playing in your car on a warm spring summer day, with the windows rolled down as you're preparing for a roadtrip with your best friends. And that's a quality that I attribute to very few records. The lyric themes are a product of their scene and the ideals that Barnett stands for, reflecting both his anti-capitalist views against an oppressive system forcing people into an endless competition with one another, and his experience of love and loss, in equally fascinating ways.
Overall, the members of Ways Away, being seasoned musicians, know how to shape truly catchy, entertaining songs without steering away from who they are, and without them being majorly influenced by their other bands. This blend results in a very enjoyable album with a wake-up message that doesn't feel like preaching but rather serves as food for thought -and if you ask me, we need more albums/artists like this.
8/10
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