Album/EP

Caskets - Reflections (Album Review)

Walladmin

Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Aug 6, 2023

7 min read

Caskets - Reflections
Released: August 11th, 2023

Lineup

Online:

Facebook
Instagram
Website

If you were smart enough to see Windwaker on their Aussie tour in the past few weeks, I hope you were also smart enough to be there in time to see support act – Yorkshire's Caskets, because they were rad. I am guilty of always listening to the same music I've been listening to for like fifteen years, and one of the things I like most about getting to review new releases is that it forces me to listen to new stuff. So often I become obsessed with the album and without too many spoilers, man, am I glad I put my hand up to review Casket's newy Reflections – let's look at what I thought of this album.

Getting straight into ‘Believe’, the literal first thing you hear is vocalist Matt Flood with a melodic intro that then bursts into screams and massive instrumentals. This song straight up lets you know how talented this group is and how rad Matt's vocals are – as for the chorus - catchy is an understatement. The bass from Chris McIntosh is fantastic across the album, but it's a real standout in this one. The first tracks on an album are always important, and Caskets have nailed it with ‘Believe’. The lads have explained that this album takes you on a journey and tells the story of the band facing interpersonal issues and how that has ultimately strengthened them. The album intro sets this up well – you're taken on a journey of sounds, tempos and parts.

https://youtu.be/PCU4BwvrFv0

Things don't slow down after the initial electronic vibes of ‘More Than Misery’. Matt comes in with incredible pop-style vocals before the track peaks to yet another catchy and anthemic chorus. The drums from James Lazenby are a huge standout, as is the heavy breakdown at the end. This one is goosebump-inducing and made me nod and shake my head like Homer Simpson in the Hullabalooza episode.

There are legitimately no low moments on this album – it's all so good. I'm not going to go through most songs like I usually do because I'd just be repeating, "Matt's vocals in this are great, the instruments sound really good, and the breakdown is awesome". AND I don't want to give it all away, everyone should give this album a listen for themselves. So, I will go through the highlights and my personal faves.

‘Too Late’ is my absolute favourite on the album. It has so much going on, and initially, fans of heavy stuff might be like, “yeah, not for me,” because it sounds like an EDM banger. To clarify – I like its poppier, EDM sound right from the get-go, but I know there might be heavy purists who might write it off (slight eye roll). But I promise you want to keep listening. The song heavies up after the initial intro, and we get into fantastic guitar riffage. Matt soars into yet another buoyant chorus, and the guitars from Benji Wilson and Craig Robinson are a highlight throughout. The lead-up to the breakdown and the breakdown itself are incredible, as is the cymbal-heavy drumming. This is my new obsession song – how long will it take to be number one on my on-repeat playlist once this album is out? Probably only a couple of days.

https://youtu.be/TB504NZpQnY

‘By The Sound’ slows things down a little (in the verses), and the lyrics and vocal delivery get more emotional. I don't know if I've mentioned the drums on this album yet (lol) but there is yet more pure-class drumming in this. ‘Six Feet Down’ is also rad, the kind of song you can clearly envision the entire band on stage getting down to the beat simultaneously with the audience. ‘Silhouettes’ is a gorgeous, heartbreaking ballad that reflects on the power of self-worth and not changing for others, and ‘Guiding Light’ gives us a fire guitar solo.

The album finishes nicely with ‘Hate Me’, which I have nothing more to say about other than it's a good song (honestly, I am such a great reviewer) and closer, ‘Better Way Out’, talks about saving a loved one from suicide and has an inspiring string crescendo to the finish.

https://youtu.be/-e5vUER20ho

Look, I don't know if this review has been terribly informative, except to tell you that I am a pretty big fan of this album. My only tiny nitpick is that the production mix seems to be a little low. I am not a technical producer type, so I don't know if I am saying this correctly, but there are parts where a breakdown is coming, and I am ready for it to punch me in the face, but it falls slightly short. Not because of the band/instruments- they are perfect; it is something to do with the production volume, I'm sure.

I've done that thing where I've seen an act live and been like, “yeah, these guys are pretty cool,” but after the gig, I get super into them and wish I could turn back time and see the set in my now obsessed state. I really enjoyed Caskets during the Windwaker show, but in a much more passive-observer way than I would now, literally only like two weeks later. This album is fucking great, this band is fucking great, and they were great to see live. There's nothing more to say except get around this album.