“With angry eyes and hearts filled with hate, can we ever change the mistakes we make?”
As the solemn tones of Lonesome‘s sound hit the ears, it begins to unravel the memory of the bygone time when that strain of melodic hardcore/metalcore sound was a popular force in the genre. The likes of Being As An Ocean, Casey, and The Elijah were beloved acts, with fans donning the merch in that Impericon style and lyric quotes ahoy on their social media accounts. Much of this found a platform on the YouTube channel, Dreambound. A cursory look shows an archive of the early roots of bands such as The Comfort, Dream State, and Acres. While showing bands that have splintered off and changed directions, Lonesome form themselves in the likes of Static Dress and Killing Me Softly.
Lonesome did find themselves in and amongst this space, albeit a few years later since its peak. Initially beginning as an instrumental band, crafting soundscapes akin to that of Tides Of Man, it wasn’t until 2021 that Lonesome put vocals to work on “Inure“, before disappearing into the long night. Until earlier this year, and quite fittingly, they reemerged on the Dreambound channel with the track “Liar” and a new repurposed look for the band. The opening track and initial single showcased a refined and expansive sound from Lonesome, leaning on the familiar yet, as will be shown throughout the record, creating some absolutely gorgeous and emotive music.
What In The Hope This Finds You does incredibly well from the outset is build its emotively charged atmosphere. As “Can You Hear” enters, the glistening, clean chords create an expansive soundscape, which is given air to breathe. While the repeated vocals of “Can you hear me” and the chanted “Woahs” do perhaps overstay their welcome, Lonesome do a grand job of solidifying their sound. The early entries of “Save Your Words” and “Liar” are tracks that could become favourites to many, given their heartfelt nature.
There is an appreciation to be had, as mentioned, that Lonesome do give What In The Hope This Finds You space to breathe. It’s also something they manage to do rather well; interlude moments in “When I Speak to You” and “You’re Nothing” do have a craftsmanship to them. This also adds to the flow of the record, which is something Lonesome have evidently given consideration, as each track does ebb into the next. While it is a record that demands attention, Lonesome have done their part by making sure each aspect of their record deserves that.
This intricate nature does fully show itself on “You Say It’s Love“. It’s also where the harsher side of Lonsome comes out, which might see it compared to the likes of Casey. There is something to the mix in how it treats the instrumentals and vocals as equal, as each is a force to be reckoned with as one. While there might be further grandiose moments later on, it does feel here that the sound of Lonesome does feel high. The rupture here does come with its own fallout in the likes of “We Are Sleepless“, which does slightly pass by, yet “And I Am Just Alone” does feel pertinent. The lyrics “Should I take to remember, how I get to feel free right now?” and “Should I take this time to forgive me?” strike through.
There is a certain extent, and perhaps unfairly, a precedent to how records of the melodic hardcore close out. It is an art that the likes of Being As An Ocean had done with “Natures” and Waiting For Morning To Come, and Casey with “Mourning” and more recently with How To Disappear. It is that cathartic edge to a record, where the emotion gathered in the record finds a place to either sit with itself or release. As those familiar with those records, it is always a longer route, which is something that Lonesome also do succinctly. As the acoustic guitars of “For We Are Stronger Apart“, it feels as if Lonesome are setting up a finale, that crescendo.
While In The Hope This Finds You does not perhaps offer an explosive offering as such records, “Just Like You Wrote To Me” does close out the record in an impressive manner. There is an introspective manner to the track, as it reflects on the narrative at hand. The guitar work here is noteworthy and one that can be indulged in, especially as the track moves out into an expansive moment towards the end. While there might be a yearning for that gut-punching moment or lyric, there is a quiet sense that While In The Hope This Finds You does not need it. That it’s very much to quote the lame duck of, it is the journey, not the destination, sort of record.
Traversing through what Lonesome has created here is a worthwhile endeavor; it also requires attention and time. Each listen will open a new moment, a new chord or lyric to embrace. In the current music world, where the focus is on the mainstream, what Lonesome has created may not reach a mass audience. Yet for those it strikes a chord with, and those willing to spend time with it, there might be something quite special here.
8/10
In The Hope This Finds You releases on September 19 and will be available on all streaming platforms.