Whereas many of their contemporaries of the noughties’ British alt rock scene have faded into obscurity, Essex boys InMe have steadily pressed on throughout the last decade with consistently solid releases. Their sixth record ‘Jumpstart Hope’ continues their steady journey, albeit mostly trades the volatility of their earlier output for something a good deal more introspective.
That said, ‘Blood Orange Lake’ is a smorgasbord of post-hardcore cascading riffage, augmented by punctuating falsettos and spat inner turmoil from Dave McPherson. Mid-point track ‘Alone’ even features a fleeting moment of math rock dizziness, while the juddering ‘Shame’ proves the addition of John O’Keefe as a secondary guitarist was a worthwhile decision and harkens back to the more caustic unpredictability of their ‘Overgrown Eden’ days.
The majority of ‘Jumpstart Hope’ favours a more subdued sound, abounding in robust melody and showcasing McPherson’s most emotionally wrought lyricism, particularly highlighted by the excellent ‘The Leopard.’ ‘I Swear’ still features the band’s requisite almost-nü-metal bounce, but with a far greater honed sense of craft. ‘The Next Song’ straddles a fine line between Deftones atmospherics and new wave strut; a sound that suits McPherson’s maturing vocals and superior hooks. ‘For Something to Happen’ is sure to be a future fan favourite, evocative of ‘Morning View’ era Incubus, while ‘Ancestry’ delves into full blown orchestral balladry without getting lost up it’s own arse.
There’s nothing in the way of gimmicks on ‘Jumpstart Hope’, succeeding simply on the strength of the songwriting. It may mean it will go under the radar of many a rock fan, but it’s well worth your attention.
- ‘Jumpstart Hope’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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