The Florida’s quintet Sleeping With Sirens open up on their fifth full-length Gossip.

Before we delve into intricacies of the album I think we should admit at this point that Sleeping With Sirens are no longer heavy rock dudes, despite their occasional emo looks, but their pop influences have taken over. That of course, is no revelation as their past releases have proven, yet a stinging disappointment fills the air.

Following their 2015’s record Madness, Sleeping With Sirens return with their effort No. 5, a projection of their past experiences as a band, their approach and methods of dealing with fame and its implications. Gossip is a personal and complex album, exposing ups and down of a band who’s been in this together for the last eight years. But it’s also a result of strong connection with their fans, full of inspiring lyrics which aim to comfort all those lost and broken souls.

Gossip definitely holds a few polished gems within. Empire To Ashes is a display of hard-hitting riffs and resilient percussion that masterfully lead the rhythmic structure of the song throughout. Having injected a fearless spirit into the bold chorus: “But there’s no way I’m giving in / To their lies I’m gonna fight / And put it all on the line tonight”, it’s a persuasive and figurative (I hope) call to arms that surely will find a susceptible ground in current demographics: “So light the gas with some matches / Let’s burn the old empire into ashes”.

Trouble is yet another upbeat rhythmic variation with a chant-like chorus that will go down brilliantly in a live setting. Next, despite nostalgic tinge, Legends brings along a hopeful accent for what future might hold: “We can be anything in life we want to be.” It’s uplifting in its simplicity with persistent and repetitive sequences that add in a huge dose of relevance to the world.

Songs Closer and War stand out significantly on the entire compilation. Beautifully layered, Closer exposes Kellin Quinn’s vocals in a subtle manner, striking with an infectious chorus whilst building up to a magnificent crescendo, whereas the latter surprises with some magnifying drum work and a truly emotive content.

However, we find some too-average and over-produced tunes on the record. Whilst Gossip and The Chase carry some anthemic magnitude, the vocal layering and Kellin’s piercing falsetto moments presented on the title track make the whole reception slightly annoying. Lyrical spectre on The Chase doesn’t introduce anything new as well, it feels a little bit trivial despite the fantastic thrilling guitars.

But Gossip has its tender moments too. I Need To Know is a pleasant love song. Pensive and relatable, it mirrors the affectionate weight and disillusion of the passing time. On the other hand, One Man Army, a take on ballad-esque soundscape, doesn’t fully reach its potential both on instrumental and lyrical level.

Almost ten years into their career, Sleeping With Sirens decide to take on the task of reflecting on their entire life. And although the intentions are there alongside some uplifting lyrical content, the production plays a dominant role. In effect we get an album where pop infusion starts to vastly overshadow the heavy elements, slightly deriving from the band’s roots. Dedicated fans however, will love every second captured on Gossip. Personally, I was just hoping to experience more.