Reaching an impressive milestone in any band’s career, Silverstein remind us all what it takes to stand the test of time through their 10th studio album, A Beautiful Place To Drown.

20 years in the biz together and Silverstein are going as strong as ever. And what a better way to celebrate this impressive milestone than by spoiling their fans with not only an extensive worldwide tour, but their brand new 10th studio album, featuring collaborations with a plethora of unexpected artists. As each of their previous nine albums had something different and intriguing about it, be it its concept, the ever-changing writing process or its inspiration, I think we are all holding our breath in anticipation of this new gem. And quite frankly, we have all the reasons to, as the already released songs are undeniable proof that A Beautiful Place To Drown will go above and beyond all expectations, surprising us once again.

While the album starts with Bad Habits (feat. Intervals) which debuts a superficially complacent attitude towards the numbing everyday routine and the addiction to the known evil, the restlessness and outrage behind it are fully unleashed in Burn It Down (feat. Caleb Shomo) thanks to a disruptive element, which becomes the new obsession in Where Are You. This sets the tone for the following songs which explore topics such as internal change, external influence, the transiency of time, as well as a full range of attitudes, ranging from accepted surrender to intense restlessness. For example, Infinite (feat. Aaron Gillespie) condemns eternity as being daunting from an introspective and solitary position, Say Yes! invites and hopes for it in the right company, same company which in Shape Shift is seen as a dishonest and malicious influence. However, the ambiguous topics are not the only intriguing element of this album. The lyricism is compelling and challenging, with Coming Down being the best example of oddly satisfying cocktail of contrasts.

Just as the ever-changing message, the instrumental follows suit with each song exploring a slightly different side of the rock and punk genres, perfectly dosed to create the right atmosphere. While heavy drums and aggressive guitar riffs support the challenge of status quo in Madness (feat. Princess Nokia), All On Me debuts a calm and almost contemplative sound with Shane Told’s soothing vocals sending you off in a still and almost numb universe.

The album goes back to the initial discussion on recurring negatives in the closing song Take What You Give (feat. Simple Plan), however this time finding genuine peace in their repetition and taking responsibility for the outcome with a very mature and analytical attitude, which shows in both the lyrics and the instrumental.

Overall, it feels like the band broke down all walls, burnt every bridge, silenced every ghost of Silverstein past and started anew on this project, welcoming what state-of-the-art technology can do for them, embracing previously foreign sonic elements and above all reinventing themselves. The modernization is also clear in the topics of conversation and the attitudes in these songs, which are both relatable and also representative for today’s society as a whole. Taking on this album with an open mind and drawing inspiration from the contemporary medium resulted in the creation of ultimate Silverstein tunes and this is why A Beautiful Place To Drown undeniably deserves a 5/5 rating.