“This is how it ends, take it or leave it.”
Since forming in Blackpool in 2013, British rock band Boston Manor have become increasingly known for their dynamic, genre-blurring sound. Their 2018 album Welcome to the Neighbourhood was a key turning point, taking their established pop punk and emo sound and mixing in a heavy dose of post-grunge and 90s alt rock worship, while managing to avoid many of the cliches inherent in paying homage to that era of rock music.
Their more recent releases have also seen an increasing use of modern electronic textures, as the band continues expanding their horizons in fresh ways. While their previous release, 2022’s mini-album Datura, saw Boston Manor focusing on the more accessible and commercially palatable aspects of their sound, Sundiver runs the gamut from soothing melodies to some of the most dynamically heavy passages the band have recorded to date.
Opener “Datura (Dawn)” picks up the connecting thread from Datura, with frontman Henry Cox crooning over a gentle piano melody and melancholy acoustic strums. However, it doesn’t take long for the album to pick up the pace. Lead single “Container” features a driving grunge-infused lead riff of the kind that has become Boston Manor’s trademark, and the song’s push-pull dynamics show the band has lost none of their songwriting muscle as their audience has continued to grow.
Following track “Sliding Doors” is one of the best curveballs in the band’s catalog to date, an absolute scorcher that recalls Deftones in the way it transitions between dramatic down-tuned riffs and ferocious screams, and a lead vocal melody that is simultaneously both beautiful and melancholy. This track blew away fans when it was released as the second single back in April, and it remains one of the high points of the album.
That said, the rest of the release continues to prove the band’s ambition. “Horses in a Dream” recalls some of the best pop-infused moments from 2020’s Glue, with its bass-heavy groove laying a solid foundation for a more calmly meditative vocal performance from Cox.
Later in the track list, “Fornix” comes barreling in with a pummeling riff that contrasts superbly with a soaring vocal hook. It’s a great example of how Boston Manor are able to incorporate classic alt rock sonic elements without falling into cliche, due largely to sharp songwriting that throws in enough unexpected twists to keep listeners on their toes. The incorporation of funk-pop guitar licks in the delectably catchy verses of “Dissolve” is another example of this.
Closer “DC Mini” is a superb capstone on the dynamic journey of Sundiver, with one of Cox’s most engrossing melodies contrasted with a blistering vocal feature from metalcore band Heriot, taking Boston Manor’s increasing flirtation with heavier strains of scene music to new heights.
Coming on the heels of one of Boston Manor’s more straightforward releases, Sundiver has re-established the band as one of the UK’s most exciting mainstream rock acts, and proves that heaviness doesn’t have to be sacrificed in pursuit of greater commercial ambition. Other mainstream rock bands should take notes – this is a superb release that is sure to take the band to new heights.
8/10
Sundiver is out September 6th on SharpTone Records, and can be pre-ordered here.