This is the Isle Of Wight bands fourth album, yes I said fourth!, it seems only yesterday that I was reviewing this bands first album, but turns out it was 10 years ago that Mainstream View hit the world with Grade 2’s gritty signature sound, and its been a great ride ever since thats for sure. So what’s exciting about this next album? Well it sees Grade 2 reaching for some pretty introspective and heartfelt moments in the band’s life, an album that feels like a ‘where are we from, where we now, and what matters most to us in the world’. This is an album based on real life and real struggles, it not only looks at how the band have got to where they are now, but it reaches out to those around them that matter.
‘Cut Throat’ is the song to set this album on its way, and it has to be an ode not just to the world of the music industry, but the world in general too. It’s musically stepping up and out too, the guitar reminds me of Social Distortion‘s sound, a gritty but bluesy mash up. This album is littered with some pretty personal stuff and ‘Hanging Onto You’ is for all intentions a love song, a thank you to someone who has always been there regardless of the shit that goes down. It’s about opening up vulnerability and saying what may have never been said enough, it’s arguably the most melodic on the album and it suits the sentiment perfectly. Then we drop into one of the stand outs among many on the album, ‘Standing In The Downpour’, that takes some pretty gritty old school punk sounds reminiscent of Sham 69 but with a modern lick to it. It’s looking back at how growing up was such a blast, but what if we knew then what we know now, its an anthem for mates, a pouring out of all those times that led them to now.
If an album ever had such power to help and say “we are here for you” then this is it, the title track grabs you by the hand and takes you to just what this albums means to the band and then you in turn. ‘Talk About It’ is that song, its catchy yes, its a little angsty, and it even drops some damn cool piano amidst the power chords, but what it has in spades is a message for those who may not feel there is anything they can do to get out of the hole they are in (been there so many times). When it feels impossible someone will listen, when the clouds come in someone will listen, just “talk about it!”.
One thing that certainly comes across on this album as a whole is the intention to open up and look at the bands life past, present, and future. It’s what many reviewers like call an introspective thing, but I prefer to look at it more as a slice of personal shit that needs to be let out and not fester. But also this is an album that musically doesn’t see Grade 2 treading water. For example the song ‘Rotten’ hits some pretty heavy GBH style punk outta the park, ‘Otherside’ reflects on what went into getting to where they are now and is an anthem of Rancid proportions, and the there is the impact on depression in a relationship. ‘Better Today’ sits a little in the self titled Grade 2 album sound but with added fire, and this is also a song that kind of sees where they are now and how they got through it all. Overall this is a triumph of an album, it definitely has influence from the Hellcat Records sound, this being the second album released through the label. To sum up ‘Talk About It‘; “Fucking yes yes yes, thank you Grade 2!!” You smashed it”
‘Talk About It‘ is out now via streaming platforms here and on vinyl via Hellcat Records, you can find out more via Grade 2‘s website, including their upcoming festival and tour dates.
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