Sundiver
Boston Manor
Boston Manor have spent several albums moving away from the pop-punk label, and Sundiver makes a strong case for giving them the room. Guitars, electronic textures and heavy rhythms all have a place here. What matters is how they work together, especially when the band lets a song build instead of rushing to the loud part.
The quiet opening, "Datura (Dawn)", sets up a record interested in recovery and possibility. It is a brief change of light before "Container" supplies the weight. That song has one of the album's strongest choruses, with enough bite in the guitar to keep its melody from floating away. Henry Cox sounds fully comfortable moving between restraint and force.
"Sliding Doors" makes particularly good use of that range. Its calmer passages give the heavier moments something to break out of. Rather than treating a big chorus as a compulsory stop, the band makes it feel like the result of the pressure underneath. "HEAT ME UP" is more direct, its warmth giving the opening run another shade without losing momentum.
Elsewhere, the changes in texture matter as much as the riffs. "Morning Star" brings electronic rhythm into the middle of the record, while "Dissolve" draws you in with its layers rather than demanding immediate attention. These touches help Sundiver feel like a complete space to spend time in. They are not simply decoration between the singles.
"What Is Taken, Will Never Be Lost" is the emotional centre. Written around the loss of Cox's grandfather, it pulls back and lets the feeling remain exposed. The gentler setting carries a kind of sadness that another huge guitar entrance would only cover up. It is one of the clearest examples of how much this band has grown.
The finish is less satisfying. "DC Mini", featuring Heriot, hints at a heavier confrontation without giving that meeting quite enough room to develop. It feels smaller than the closing statement this album has earned. Even so, Sundiver's best songs do more than demonstrate a wider set of influences. They use those sounds to make hope feel complicated, physical and worth holding on to.
