In Due Time
In Due Time gives Submersed a strong introduction through expressive singing and guitar parts that do more than support the choruses. The music stays close to accessible post-grunge and hard rock, but smaller melodic details help the songs hold attention. Donald Carpenter's voice gives the record much of its force. The full album is less consistent than its strongest passages, with familiar writing and some overextended performances limiting the impact.
Hollow makes an effective opening. Its darker introduction leads towards a large chorus, while the guitar work gives the bridge an identity of its own. Carpenter sounds confident, and the arrangement lets the band make a substantial first impression. The production is polished, sometimes excessively so, but the playing gives the song something beyond its immediate hook.
To Peace offers a lighter melodic setting. Its recurring guitar idea is simple enough to follow quickly, yet it gives the song a clear character. You Run finds another strength through bluesier lead phrasing. These passages show how useful the guitarists are to the album: the smaller figures and melodic responses often make a more lasting impression than the heavier chord patterns.
Divide the Hate brings more force back into the sequence. Its opening guitar melody has an Eastern character before the fuller sound takes over. The rougher vocal moments also give the song an edge that the band use selectively. The contrast is effective because the record does not rely on that harsher delivery throughout.
Carpenter can make a chorus sound large, but his more elaborate vocal phrases sometimes compete with the instrumental detail. The drums are less distinctive than the guitars, and several songs follow predictable routes. The title track also tries to fit too much into its arrangement. Those limitations become clearer when the sequence reaches less convincing later material.
In Due Time is an enjoyable, uneven hard-rock debut with several songs worth finding. Submersed have a capable singer and guitarists who understand the value of a small melodic idea.
