New Hampshire is not a very large state. Actually there are only nine states smaller, but with a state motto that exclaims “Live free or die,” it’s obvious the citizens of this state have a very adventurous spirit. Between the hiking, skiing and observing of foliage, a couple of Granite Stater’s found some time to get together and take on this metalcore movement. With a good six years under their belt and two albums in their discography, the uproarious quintet Our Last Night have resurfaced for round three with their second studio release, We Will All Evolve.

This being my first experience with this outfit, I was unsure of what to expect. Epitaph is a strong label; and more often than not, I take a liking to the bands they promote so I was eager to get my hands on this new album. Just as I had hoped, Our Last Night captured (or should I say demanded) my attention right out the gate which really enticed me to dig in deep with this album. I let my inhibitions go and let these boys do the driving, and ended up having no regrets.

Our Last Night incorporate all the elements needed to get your granny’s panties in a wad, but also make your girlfriend’s panties drop at the same time. Their hair-trigger chops and brisk melodies work well together, making for quite a thrill ride. Brothers Trevor and Matt Wentworth take reign over the tracks with some sonorous vocal lines. Trevor’s feral growls and Matt’s melodic benefaction complement each other beautifully. Each song offers up some brutality without sacrificing any melody, which is a quality I love when listening to music. The breakdowns and heavy fills take control making you want to throw kittens into a brick wall, while the choruses are both huge and captivating making you want to bounce your head and let it ride.

The album opens with a track titled “Elephants.” The chaotic guitar work and piercingly heavy vocals come at you like an angry grizzly bear, while the choruses are so infectious that you will immediately want to sing along. Listening to this song really gives you an idea of what to expect from the rest of the album.

We Will All Evolve maintains momentum bringing the hurt and the noise throughout the entire record. Track four, “Across the Ocean”, starts off sounding like a punk inspired “emo” ballad, but don’t pack up too soon because this song really opens up and holds its own. This is one of the catchiest songs on the album, so make sure to give it a good hard listen.

Overall, I think Our Last Night will appeal to a broad spectrum of listeners due to the infusing of different sounds. But on the other hand, those same elements might alienate some listeners, forcing them to find the band’s sound displeasing or unlistenable. We Will Evolve does have a very strong punk feel, which is the only aspect that some might turn away from. Although I personally enjoyed the entire album, I found some songs sounded more like a heavier New Found Glory. While this isn’t necessarily a bad quality, some hardcore listeners might find that the verses are overly soft and too upbeat.

Besides the occasional pop-punk influence that sporadically shows up in a few songs, this is a must hear record for fans of post-core and metalcore. Our Last Night reminds me a lot of A Day To Remember and Underoath. If you are looking for an upbeat, fast paced, brutal helping of punk infused metalcore, this outfit should be right in your wheelhouse.

4.0/5