Label: Big Scary Monsters
Released: 28th April 2023
The return of stalwarts Hundred Reasons and Hell Is For Heroes has meant the UK’s emo scene is under more scrutiny than it has been for years – and for those tuning back in, they’ll no doubt be delighted to find the current crop of bands have kept things in good order.Watford’s Lakes are at the top of the tree after two stellar albums – 2019’s ‘Constance’ and 2021’s ‘Start Again’. ‘Elysian Skies’ follows on strongly from these two efforts – and for those buoyed by the return of the aforementioned emo legends, it’s the ideal starting point to get acquainted with today’s underground stars.
Opener’ Deep End’ might be Lakes’ finest song to date. Layered vocals, a stupendously infectious hook that builds before exploding into life midway through and glorious handclaps all vie for attention, yet somehow all share centre stage. It’s followed by ‘Aces’ – the perfect pop moment and an opening salvo of intent.
The math-rock excess that characterised their earlier output has been trimmed and replaced with a more traditional indie-rock sound. It certainly makes the group’s dense sound much more accessible, even if they remain decidedly off-centre musically. For example, closing number ‘Huron’, and ‘Chablis’ take as much from moody post-punk as they do Midwest emo, while ‘Leap’ and ‘Our Fine Arrangement’ finds the group delving deep into their post-rock and slowcore influences. It’s in this broadening scope that Lakes strike real gold.
It’s not all new ground, however. ‘Joker’, ‘Cut and Run’ and ‘TLC’ are all Lakes at their indie/emo best, the latter being a real standout in an album of few lows.
Happenstance is funny, but in style, scope and delivery, ‘Elysian Skies’ is remarkably similar to Hundred Reasons’ ‘Glorious Sunset’. It’s not surprising, given that the reference points for the two emo acts are comparable, but it does highlight the cyclical nature of music as the gap between emo’s second wave and revival closes. It’s perhaps too much of a stretch to say the apprentice has become the master, but ‘Elysian Skies’ is of the level that you could call the two acts peers and easily justify the comparison. UK emo’s back, baby!
