ALL THE WARS

Immersive, emotive and edgy, 'All the Wars' is a 2012 studio album from The Pineapple Thief, the Bruce Soord-led progressive band whose name has become synonymous with nostalgic rage and indie production values (occasionally), and this fantastic studio album confirms just how excellent of a songwriter Soord is, here joined by keyboard player Steve Kitch, longtime bassist Jon Sykes and now-former drummer Keith Harrison. A collection of nine new songs on the standard edition of the album, 'All the Wars' really takes up some of the aesthetic searchings of preceding TPT releases (especially their 2008 and 2010 albums) and expands them in a way that magnifies the group's scope as well as their progressive pedigree - at parts heavy and relentless, at others vulnerable and intimate, there is a great balance between these two forces that are necessarily at play in most of the band's music. The album is replete with gorgeous art rock anthems that take equal amounts of inspiration from Porcupine Tree and Muse but redirect this creative energy into a lush and stimulating presentation.

Of course, this album also utilizes the strength and profound sonic power of a 22-piece string section as well as a choir, adding a touch of symphonic goodness to the mix, intertwining brilliantly with the alt-rock riffs and the solid rock rhythms of the album. The entire album winds back and forth between gripping melancholia and atmospheric, angular guitars, topped by the always-recognizable vocal delivery style of Soord. And just like almost any other album by The Pineapple Thief, 'All the Wars' sounds very good, the production is excellent and vibrant, and you can discern the contribution of the different instruments. This is a less electronic record than its predecessor, which is probably why it is a little more straightforward, and I do believe that 'All the Wars' generally has greater commercial potential than some of the preceding albums from Soord. Some highlights on here definitely include 'Warm Seas', 'Give It Back', 'Someone Pull Me Out' and the magnificent 10-minute-long album closer 'Reaching Out'. The opening track has a punkier sound, while 'Last Man Standing' and 'Build a World' reflect upon a more existential strife, at least from what one could tell from the lyrics, with the entire album being quite honest, mature and richly emotional. Just an excellent work from an excellent band and a strong step forward towards the consolidation of the band's contemporary alternative-progressive sound.

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