Poison The Well

Poison The Well

Versions

[4.5/5] Few bands in recent memory have shouldered such weighty expectations as Poison The Well. While often cited as seminal contributors to the metalcore genre, the band’s exceptionally rich songwriting has long stretched beyond such simplistic descriptions. And after kicking off Versions with the destructively satisfying “Letter Thing,” it’s clear this is a band in ultra-top form. “Can this sunshine make me happy?” implores vocalist Jeffrey Moreira, only confirming PTW’s ascent to the most strikingly focused level yet of their desperate, organic existence. Versions capitalizes on the fundamentals that have always made PTW awesome-fast and forceful indignation bound to an uncommonly natural gift for the unhappily mellow. Countless bands have tried to match the two ends of this spectrum, but few with as much skill as PTW. You like Minor Threat and the Beatles? You’ll be fine. With brilliant production courtesy of super-Swedes Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lovstrom (Refused, Breach), this is also the finest-sounding release to date from Ferret Music. Expectations be damned-Versions is epic. (FERRET) Ronen Kauffman

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