At this stage, it’s hard to tell what casts the longest shadow; ‘What It Is To Burn’ or the aftermath of Finch’s follow-up effort, ‘Say Hello To Sunshine’.
‘Back To Oblivion’, the band’s third full length, is not without its foibles, but it’s confident and steps out of those shadows almost immediately. Having indulged the still-burning passion for their debut on their recent reunion tours, this new chapter feels like the real thing.
Where ‘Say Hello To Sunshine’ toyed with form and railed against the box in which they’d been filed post-’What It Is To Burn’, this record is streamlined and direct, powering up behind Nate Barcalow’s idiosyncratic vocal performance and some shimmering hooks.
The title track is a prime example, leaping from a stadium-sized guitar lead into a soaring chorus, giving any lingering doubts about a second and a half to pack their bags and get the hell out of Dodge. Its title and bridge - “I think we’re caving in” - may hint at the angst of old, but there is a more seasoned approach at work here. The resulting air is one of growth rather than collapse.
Guitarists Alex Linares and Randy Strohmeyer tread a narrow path between dexterous leads and thick power chords, underpinning Barcalow and feeding off a rhythm section that - notably during a dizzying breakdown on Further From The Few - doesn’t miss a beat.
There are moments when those who turned their nose up at Finch a decade ago will find reason to do so again, perhaps the reedy chorus of Murder Me or as Us Vs. Them’s verse ticks the ‘atmospheric’ box, but that matters less than it did. Finch aren’t kids anymore and they aren’t poster boys. They are an expansive rock band with a record in tow that will shut a few mouths.
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