Review Summary: A little piece of nostalgia
All You Embrace is simply nostalgic. Moving further away from their hardcore influences, One Step Closer dives deeper into the melodic tendencies of pop-punk without losing an ounce of their passion. Full of soaring choruses and catchy riffs, their newest effort feels straight out of the 2000’s – and it feels comforting. Though One Step Closer has deviated from their more aggressive-tinged debut record,
All You Embrace still maintains their high-energy performance while shifting their focus more towards the harmonies and melodies.
The one-two punch of “Leap Years” and “Blur My Memory” brings back memories (ironic) of their previous sound with blistering drum grooves and hardcore guitar/bass rhythms, while incorporating catchy melodies throughout. However, this raw aggression sound of their last album begins to fade away outside of these songs as One Step Closer leans into a softer style. “Color You” opens the record with strong harmonies that shows their emphasized focus on the melodic aspect of their sound. “Orange Leaf” and “Topanga” are reminiscent of the early, energetic years of pop-punk with dynamic shifts between subtle, building verses and high-powered choruses. However, where
All You Embrace really excels is in the more experimental moments of One Step Closer’s journey into slower melodic compositions.
“The Gate” is a slow-burn track that brings more energy with each verse as it builds into a climatic final chorus. With this new territory, the band succeeds in this ambitious style with cohesive harmonies and maintaining a consistent progression that maintains both melody and energy. Similarly, “Giant’s Despair” is another slow-burn, yet it leads to an even greater pay-off. Following a stripped-down bridge, the track explodes into a highlight of the year full of brass/horns and immersive guitars. Accompanied by closer “So Far From Me,”
All You Embrace concludes with a beautiful ballad that ties together their new melodic style in a cohesive manner.
Though One Step Closer stripped away a lot of their aggressive style,
All You Embrace is a bright step in a new direction for the band. Their blend of pop-punk melodies while still maintaining the energy of their hardcore-influenced beginnings produces an intense passion that elevates the album to new heights. While the heavier sound of
This Place You Know is exceptional, this shift in style shows a band looking to consistently progress their sound – and boy is it something to be excited about.
