Touché Amoré – Is Survived By

Following on from a series of strong split releases, L.A.'s most inviting hardcore outfit make their highly anticipated return. Less immediate than their 2011 breakthrough – the stellar Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me – Is Survived By distances itself from straight-up aggression and finds the band on experimental form. Harbour is mid-tempo by their standards and concentrates more on texture and melody, whereas Non-Fiction builds up in its first half before bursting into cathartic release in its climax.

 

Jeremy Bolm's impassioned screams carry echoes of other post-hardcore vocalists more so than usual; he'll often break into a half-spoken word style reminiscent of La Dispute's Jordan Dreyer. The lyrics are painfully honest and head straight for the gut, carrying the rare ability to resonate with people's lives in truly profound ways. There's a big, beating heart at the centre of the chaos. [Ross Watson]