With a plodding, building guitar line, a slow drum intro and the opening lyrics of “Light a candle / For the good times gone away,” Goddamnit isn’t subtle of where they’re going on All The Time Is Yours Now. Playing Hot Water Music-style punk, it’s a break-up record steeped in old school emo. While the lyrics are somewhat weighted in a single direction, the tone of the record really comes from the guitar. The album is a heavy head nodder, with shouted, coarse vocals and well-timed gang vocals.
The record wears both its heart and its influence on its sleeve. And there’s nothing wrong with that, as it delivers more often than not. It’s emotionally toned but it connects with the audience, and there’s a point in “Rejects on the Wall” where it’s impossible not to singalong. There are upbeat moments, with a more forceful beat throughout that song, countering the despondent lyrical tone with a burst of energy. Some subtle classic rock bridges help to deliver that underlying positivity. “Learn the Line” straddles this line as well, almost sounding happy at times.
At other times I pick up some alt-country, with “Learn The Line” sounding something like Hot Water Music meets Lucero. “Rust Between the Years” pulls everything together well, with those sorrowful lyrics but a more driving, forward-pushing sound that, briefly, echoes The Bouncing Souls before moving into call and response vocals followed by a big finish. It highlights the band’s strength, which is delivering complex emotions through a wide lens of emotion that hits on heavy topics without being bogged down by them. The 3-minute songs frequently change direction without losing their way or their primary mood.
As all the namedropping suggests, the general sound is familiar on this album, sticking to a developed style rather than reinventing the genre. But the strong songwriting and subtle developments within the songs make up for that. It’s authentic, emotional and driving punk for a rainy day.
