Promise Everything
Promise Everything is easy to get into, and sometimes a little too comfortable. Basement keep the heavy guitars and emotional singing of their earlier work, but the songs lean further towards clear alternative rock. The playing is tight, the hooks arrive quickly, and the album moves through its ten tracks in less than half an hour. Its best moments make that simplicity work.
The opening Brothers Keeper puts a softer chorus inside a more forceful arrangement, giving the louder sections a useful contrast. Hanging Around keeps the instruments closely packed, with the bass and drums supporting the guitar's steady movement. There is little wasted space, and Andrew Fisher's singing provides a clear line to follow through the distortion.
Lose Your Grip adds a sharper burst of tension. Its anxious guitar figure leads towards a more urgent vocal finish, briefly breaking away from the album's generally controlled mood. Aquasun is an even stronger example of the band's melodic writing. Its bold opening guitar riff and clear melodic hooks make a strong impression without needing a more complicated arrangement. It has weight without making heaviness the only point.
Submission brings another useful detail through its guitar solo, while Oversized changes the scale with a quieter, more reflective approach. These smaller shifts show how much the record gains when the band step outside their main pattern. They give the listener a change without losing the sound that connects the songs.
The title track is another highlight, particularly when Duncan Stewart's bass takes its own route beneath the guitars. That extra movement makes the closing rush more satisfying. Elsewhere, the familiar mid-paced rhythm and fuzzy guitar tone can make individual tracks less distinct. Halo's slower finish also leaves a softer impression than the strongest songs before it.
Promise Everything is a good collection with several excellent entry points. It does not always turn its consistent sound into a fully varied album, and a few arrangements feel safer than they need to. Still, the clear melodies, strong bass playing and compact writing make it worthwhile. Basement are most convincing when they let a small change in voice or arrangement give a straightforward rock song another level.
