Album/EP

Trophy Eyes - Suicide and Sunshine (Album Review)

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Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Jun 20, 2023

7 min read

Trophy Eyes – Suicide and Sunshine
Released: June 23rd, 2023

Lineup:

John Floreani – Vocals
Jeremy Winchester – Bass // Vocals
Blake Caruso - Drums
Josh Campiao - Lead guitar

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Suicide and Sunshine is Trophy Eyes’ fourth album. It’s the band’s 10 year anniversary together making music, and this is an album that will mark that time period permanently. We found out in my interview with vocalist John Floreani (read it here) that the band almost fell apart and this was meant to be their last album saying goodbye. It’s very apparent when you hear Suicide and Sunshine that the band have found their passion for music together again, and this is not the last you’ll hear from them. Let’s get into it.

Suicide and Sunshine opens with ‘Sydney’ and immediately it’s like a nod to 2016 Trophy Eyes. It’s the different side of the same coin that is ‘Miracle’ from Chemical Miracle, the same signature screams just elevated. It’s like a jumpstart into the album and it fades into ‘Life In Slow Motion’ with the continuation of the synths. It feels warm and John’s vocals are very minimally accompanied in the beginning with piano, until, of course, the drums and guitar kick in. It’s uplifting and euphoric and a lovely welcome to the album.

‘People Like You’ is a bit punk, a bit pop, and a lot of rock. We have gang vocals that just beg for people to sing-a-long, and little vocal overlays yelling in between verses. Look out for the sweet guitar solo in there too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vynk_5pmSYw

‘My Inheritance’ is where it’s very obvious how good John’s vocals have become. He’s hitting new notes his vocals really drive the song. The entire track has this sexy groove that is amplified by some killer bass, and there’s a repeated synth that is just perfect. This is my BOG (best on ground).

We keep the good feelings going with ‘Blue Eyed Boy’ which is upbeat, dancey, and fun, despite the deep lyrical content. A John Floreani/Trophy Eyes signature, the band create these incredibly fun songs on the surface, but the lyrics speak to some deep thoughts and feelings. ‘I’d still die for you but not for me / Best believe / I’ve tried everything / Do it for yourself if not for me / Can’t you see? / It’s taken everything’.

‘Runaway Come Home’ features electric drums and synths in the beginning, allowing the vocals to be prominent. As the song evolves and picks up, we hear a vocal effect that gives a robotic sounding effect, and when the drums and guitar kick in it’s another euphoric track. There’s still some grit to the track, and it gives us the perfect juxtaposition between rough and sweet. The song builds you up in just the right places and ends on a note that feels unfinished and keeping you waiting. But it does lead immediately into ‘Burden’ which is a great low in the album. It’s an interlude with a very intimate feeling and minimal accompaniments to John’s vocals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAn3qA5I6VE

‘Sean’ is an emotional track. It feels a bit rough around the edges and unpolished, like this track wasn’t touched or rehearsed very much. That isn’t a bad thing, it makes it feel deeply personal to John, and like we’re intruding. It’s almost like you’re peeking through the window to someone else’s house and you’re scared of being caught. It feels like we shouldn’t be hearing this song, and that is simultaneously addicting, because you want to hear more, and uncomfortable.

The way the band wrote ‘What Hurts The Most’ and how it’s placed after ‘Sean’ is perfect. It slowly brings the energy up, but not so much that it’s really jarring after such a raw track. It’s a bridging track to help build us up again. ‘OMW’ is the kicker though. It has a great, heavy riff intro and is the rock song. This is definitely a happy mosh song—it’s not too wild but allows for controlled aggression.

I love a good, moody track, and ‘Kill’ delivers. We have beautiful vocals that verge on the edge of a shout during the chorus, and it feels like a song that is full of realisations. In my opinion, it’s what hindsight feels like when you realise you’ve been used. It’s sadly sweet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIbWn57Es78

Continuing in the same vein is ‘Sweet Soft Sound’. We have an interesting cadence with the vocals, it’s more continuous and John works through the verses quite fluidly. It’s simple, soft with acoustic guitar, and midway through you realise it’s a love song. It’s beautiful and you’ll want to listen to this one and think of your loved one.

But let’s build you back up with ‘Stay Here’. It has this delicious build in intensity through the entire track. You may think the first chorus is the peak of that build, but you’d be wrong. Once the choir comes in and the synths that fill your entire body, and the organ underneath John’s screams—that’s the peak and it’s glorious. This track is consuming and the organ taking the track out is an unexpected star feature.

This is an album you don’t want to end, but it does with ‘Epilogue’. This song feels very much like a goodbye and a thank you. It’s like a reflection on their career and where they are now, which is right here loved by so many people. ‘And I just didn’t wanna die in my hometown / Look at me now / Look at me now / And all I wanted was to make all of you proud / It’s for you now / It’s all for you now’. It’s the perfect album closer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-3--tv1hQo

I’m really impressed by this album. I found Trophy Eyes just when Chemical Miracle dropped and that album impacted me massively, and I’ve been along for the ride ever since. I know many OG fans would think that peak TE was Chemical Miracle, or fans that came on during American Dream would think that was peak TE. But they’re all wrong. Suicide and Sunshine is peak Trophy Eyes. It encompasses every aspect of their sound, their integrity, and their heart all woven into one album.

The band initially considered this to be their last album (thank goodness they found their passion again through its creation), but if this were to be Trophy Eyes’ final album, I think it has everything we need. It carries you through so thoughtfully and gives you the high, euphoric moments where you feel the music swelling and it’s mixed with that nostalgic feeling, and it slowly lies you down and drapes a blanket over you for the lows. It’s masterful, and I think this is the type of album in a band’s catalogue that is the pivotal point.

Long live Trophy Eyes.