“Let us become the flower. Rise up, blossom.”
Nearly three years after their last album, Brisbane post-hardcore unit The Comfort continues to craft heartfelt and relatable songs that appeal to those seeking connection. After a brief period of inactivity, the band released a few standalone singles starting in 2024 before beginning the rollout of Let The Love In. The trio consists of guitarist Liam Holmes and bassist Dominic Harper, who also form the band’s dual vocalist combo, as well as drummer Marcus Parante. With Let The Love In, the band continue on their endeavour to wear their hearts on their sleeves as they lean heavier into their post-hardcore influences.
From the first single, “Down (How Many Times Can I Lose Everything?)”, the sonic direction of the album is already apparent, with a heavy ambiance that permeates the entire track, lamenting a state of depression. Harper delivers melancholy-laced, catchy lines with ease. The song introduces heavier moments, particularly on the bridge, while still maintaining a genuine, yet approachable disposition that overall makes for a strong performance.
The band finds itself delivering some of their heaviest tracks with “Isolate.Fixate.Deteriorate” and “Blossom”. The former sees Harper and Holmes tag team for its explosive chorus, and Harper delivers the main hook, backed by powerful, screamed vocals from Holmes. Where the intensity is dialed back on the verses, intricate lead work from Holmes gives the track an added layer of detail. “Blossom” takes a similar, yet more fast-paced approach. Where “Isolate.Fixate.Deteriorate” created impact with heavy atmospheres, “Blossom” takes a more straightforward post-hardcore approach, with Parante keeping up the energy on the kit excellently. The track sees Harper take center stage, performing both cleans and harsh vocals and displaying the interesting vocal dynamic that the band has.
As seen on their previous album, the band are no strangers to honest themes of mental health, and album opener “Existence Is Suffering” continues in that vein. A regretful reflection on the state of the world and the futility of life, there is something to appreciate in its bleak relatability. “Stay” leans heavily on post-rock textures to paint a canvas of hopelessness about the broken state of humanity, another theme that the band commonly writes about. “Alchemy” speaks of putting on a façade, using the metaphor of alchemy to illustrate putting up a front. There’s a genuine desire for connection that The Comfort possesses, making their music stand out amongst similar offerings.
Interestingly, the album’s flow sees itself getting lighter sonically and thematically, more optimistic. “Everlasting” presents a hope for the future despite the frailty of life. Driven by synths and hazy atmospheres, the track has a wistful optimism that begins the next half of the album. “I Wish I Let You Love Me” is an honest expression of regret over not reciprocating the love and concern received in struggling with depression. The track brings back the more alt-rock-inspired sound of the previous album, bringing a sense of connectivity with the band’s previous work. “Garden State” reflects on the often-natural tendency towards cynicism and jadedness about the world, and instead makes an intentional effort to fight against that. It employs softer, gentler sonic choices, which make for a comforting atmosphere. Something I spoke highly about on the last review was how candid and straightforward the band are with their expression of emotion, and this still rings true on this album.
The album ends with its title track, bringing the journey of the album to a satisfying close. The track sees the band armed with a new resolve to make the best of life against all odds, directly contrasting the hopelessness expressed at the start of the album. Ending on a brighter note seems to be something consistent with the band, seeing as the closer of Experience Everything. Live and Die also sent the album off on a sanguine note. The approach is something I undoubtedly appreciate from The Comfort, and it is well executed on Let The Love In.
Let The Love In sees The Comfort delivering yet another album full of sincere reflections, particularly on the idea of finding hope, despite the state of the world. There’s a certain relatability that I’m sure many will find themselves resonating with and appreciating. Although it isn’t as expansive sonically as the previous album, it hones in on sounds that deliver the message effectively, with a heavy emphasis on atmosphere that really works in their favour. There is no denying that connection is something The Comfort value, and once again, they prove that they are excellent at achieving it.
8/10
Let The Love In releases on the 3rd of October via independent release. Pre-order and merch links for the album can be found here.