Moments Elsewhere
Moments Elsewhere gives Johnny Booth's heavy sound more room to move. The band still deliver sharp rhythmic changes, harsh vocals and substantial breakdowns, but melody has a much larger role here. Cleaner singing and electronic details help the arrangements change character. The result is an ambitious metalcore album that usually makes its different directions feel connected.
2040 makes a direct opening statement with distorted guitars and an aggressive vocal. Collapse in the Key of Fireworks expands that attack through a heavier electronic edge, with a more melodic bridge changing the scale of the performance. The contrast keeps the forceful playing from becoming the only point of interest.
Full Tilt develops that wider approach particularly well. Its cleaner vocal and detailed guitar work give the song an immediate melodic identity, while the changes in rhythm leave room for a substantial heavier payoff. The electronic beat adds another useful texture without removing the physical impact.
Only by Name is less straightforward. Its guitar opening and harsh voice lead into a much heavier passage, before a more spacious section changes the atmosphere. The song moves between those elements with confidence. A quieter moment can feel like part of the central idea rather than an interruption between riffs.
Why Becomes How goes further towards a clean, melodic performance. The change gives the surrounding heavier songs some welcome distance, although its more conventional shape loses a little of the surprise found elsewhere. The melody works, but the arrangement is less distinctive than the band's best combinations of movement and weight.
Bright Future also depends more on its catchy side, and that lighter character will not be equally convincing for everyone. No Comply provides a much more abrasive alternative, keeping the sharper riffing firmly in view. The album benefits from having both impulses available.
Moments Elsewhere succeeds because Johnny Booth treat melody as a real part of their writing. A few choices are less adventurous than the strongest passages, but the balance of rhythmic aggression, atmosphere and memorable singing gives this collection a clear identity. It is a strong example of heavy music growing without losing its energy.
