Snow Patrol - The Forest Is The Path (Album Review)
Thursday, 19 September 2024
Written by Chris Connor
Photo: Tom Beard
Thanks to huge hits such as Run, Chasing Cars and Take Back The City, Snow Patrol’s pop-rock has been part of the fabric of UK music for the past 20 years. Their eighth album, ‘The Forest Is The Path’, retains their anthemic sound while serving up a mixed bag when it comes to anything outside of their comfort zone.
All, the album’s opening track and one of its singles, sets the tone nicely. It shows vocalist Gary Lightbody in fine fettle, gradually unfurling into the sort of soaring chorus that the band made their name with. If not as immediately strong as their very best work, there remains a charm to it and comfort to be found in its familiarity.
The Beginning takes a more unexpected route, indulging in a stripped-back opening section built around Lightbody’s quiet vocals before exploding into life as he sings about wanting to live in the moment and not ruin a relationship. It finds a balance between the band’s more up-tempo sound and some of their slower ballads.
Back to back, Everything’s Here and Nothing’s Lost and Your Heart Home take a slight tour into electronic percussion. As small a change as this represents, it does show a band still willing to try new sounds. The latter song, in particular, is home to some intriguing sonic textures.
Years That Fall is full of restless energy, one of the most uptempo tracks the group has put out in some time. It’s a far cry from the slow-burns that have helped them achieve their greatest successes. It’s generic stuff but there is an amiability to the fact that they’re trying something.
‘The Forest Is The Path’ delivers everything fans would want from the band after two decades in the saddle. There are, of course, the huge choruses the band has become synonymous with and Lightbody is in good voice throughout. With an increase in nostalgia for 00s indie there will likely be greater demand for Snow Patrol at festivals and these new tracks will slot in well alongside their hits. That’s about as far as it goes.
Snow Patrol Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Wed September 18 2024 - MANCHESTER New Century Hall
Thu September 19 2024 - GLASGOW SWG3
Sat February 15 2025 - LONDON O2 Arena
Sun February 16 2025 - BIRMINGHAM BP Pulse Live
Tue February 18 2025 - CARDIFF Utilita Arena
Wed February 19 2025 - HULL Connexin Live
Fri February 21 2025 - GLASGOW OVO Hydro
Sat February 22 2025 - MANCHESTER Co-op Live
Tue February 25 2025 - DUBLIN 3Arena
Thu February 27 2025 - BELFAST SSE Arena Belfast
Fri February 28 2025 - BELFAST SSE Arena Belfast
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