Review: “Invisible Rain” by Stick To Your Guns

“‘The alienation from the self is a consequence of being a mechanistic part of a social class, the condition of which estranges a person from their humanity. This EP is about the theory of alienation. The ways in which we have been alienated from ourselves, our work, our lives and ultimately each other. How are we to care about anything beyond ourselves when we ourselves are in a constant state of survival. The consequence of this is the society that currently envelopes us. One that preys on our decencies and our good will and turns it against us. There is a lot to despair about in today’s world but our future has yet to be written. We can either write it or it will be written for us. I want to thank SharpTone Records for believing in our vision and for helping to continue to cultivate hardcore and metalcore music. Shawn has been involved with STYG since its inception and I know we are in good hands. The old world is dying, the new one struggles to be born. Now is the time of monsters.’” ~ Jesse Barnett

Engineered by Beau Burchell (Senses Fail, Saosin, Greed Culture) alongside guitarist Chris Rawson with mixing and mastering by Jeff Dunne (Knocked Loose, Currents), “Invisible Rain” is the first new material from the highly influential Orange County California Hardcore Punk quintet Stick To Your Guns since 2022’s “Spectre“. That was an album which completed the bands run with Pure Noise Records and while solid and very listenable it continued a trend of hit and miss albums four deep for a band who have been around since 2003. So will a move to SharpTone Records, a label with Better Lovers and Comeback Kid on their roster see the band reinvigorated?

The answer to that is in the format, one which has worked very well in the past for the label with We Came As Romans and Loathe in particular benefitting from the odd short, sharp shock of a release. A two minute Hardcore cut “Permanent Dark” exposes the Metalcore roots of Stick To Your Guns before a melodic break threatens to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Fortunately its just a handful of seconds and a couple of vocal lines before the band transition back into the pile up of breakdown orientated riffs and pulsating percussive battery so it doesn’t suck the energy out of the room. A belting track, the likes of which we haven’t heard since “Amber“, this one feels like the dawn of a heavy hitting new age for the Orange County quintet. Next up is “Invisible Rain” which continues down that heavier path but integrates a big sung chorus as Barnett cuts between feverish screams and soul stirring cleans. Another welcome surprise front loaded with powerhouse riffs, this feels like Josh James is finally making his presence felt after his move from Evergreen Terrace. The dynamic of the track leverages all the bands experience in the live arena and provides something for moshers and as well as those who wish to sing-a-long, leaving no doubt that both of these cuts will go down a storm live. The question is, where has this version of Stick To Your Guns been hiding in recent times? If their first album with SharpTone Records is anything like this prize pair then we’ll be talking about it as a return of the Kings [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Permanent Dark
2. Invisible Rain

“Invisible Rain” by Stick To Your Guns is out 7th July 2024 via SharpTone Records