The Color Morale
Hold On Pain Ends
Reviewed by: Kelly Galloway
Having made the jump from Rise Records earlier this year to join competing label Fearless, many fans of The Color Morale feared that the band would churn out a new album that was flat and generic—essentially just cashing in on the success of their wildly popular last album, Know Hope.
Unfortunately for these fans, they were right.
While the move to fearless was supposed to allow the band to progress, the first album at the different label (the band’s fourth in total) is a shallow extension of Know Hope. And while the uplifting messages of being hopeful, knowing you aren’t alone, and finding happiness are great, devoting two full albums to this message seems a bit forced.
Hold On Pain Ends is a lackluster follow up to an inspiring third album. The lyrics, while delivering the same sentiments, seem to just barely scratch the surface of the serious issues of which vocalist Garret Rapp is singing. The message comes off as cheap, hollow, and mediocre. To make things worse, each track seems to follow the same generic metalcore formula: bland instrumentals, positive lyrics, Rapp’s harsh vocals. With the exception of the title track, Hold On Pain Ends is formulaic and forgettable.
It is the title track, however, that is a bright light on bleak album. The message in Rapp’s words somehow seem more meaningful, the instrumentals more thoughtful. And while Hold On Pain Ends does end on the strong note, it’s not enough to save this album.
Rating: No Comment
