Poison the Well: Peace In Place
After some time away, one of the most influential metalcore acts of the ’90s, Poison the Well, are back with their first studio album in seventeen years. ‘Peace In Place’, produced by GRAMMY Award-winning Will Putney, proves it’s been well worth the wait.
“I’ll change my colours and show myself off”, sings Jeff Moreira as feedback creeps into the listener’s ears, welcoming us back into Poison the Well’s world before opening track ‘Wax Mask’ properly kicks things off with a riff that sounds like it was designed in a lab to make people jump off a stage. ‘Primal Bloom’ is a guaranteed good time for those who enjoy two-stepping, while the angular intro of ‘Throughbreds’ builds tension before descending into D-beats and thundering riffs. This track sees Moreira switching effortlessly from ferocious screams to soaring cleans and it ends with an outrageously good breakdown.
‘Everything Hurts’ feels reminiscent of the ‘Wrongdoers’-era Norma Jean. A haunting introduction of just vocals, drums, and bass builds suspense before launching into a truly massive chorus, then plunging back into classic Poison the Well fury and another standout breakdown. This song really highlights how skilled the band remain at combining melodic and harsh elements of their sound.
Pounding drums introduce ‘A Wake Of Vultures’, a song that darts between slide guitar leads and Slayer-esque riffing before finally arriving at an outro that wouldn’t be out of place as background music in a Clint Eastwood film. ‘Drifting Without End’ is another track full of surprises, showing off a more restrained, cinematic side of the band. A spacious verse that allows drummer Chris Hornbrook to play some exceptional grooves gives way to a massive chorus that seems to grow each time it returns. Don’t let the gently strummed intro of ‘Melted’ fool you, this song is a rager, filled with chugging guitars and howled vocals, allowing only a few moments to catch your breath before dragging you back into the maelstrom with the nastiest breakdown on the record.
Closer ‘Plague Them the Most’ again showcases the band’s trademark ability to switch between melancholic melodies and rage-filled riffs. Blast beats and blistering palm-muted riffs sit beneath Moreira’s bellowing vocals, sounding like a deranged preacher. As the song reaches its conclusion, he promises to never again grind his teeth in the name of kindness, never again to bite his tongue in the name of mercy.
Poison the Well don’t miss a beat on this album, delivering soaring melodies and huge breakdowns executed in a way only a band with their heritage can pull off. ‘Peace In Place’ is an excellent new addition to an already stellar back catalogue. Welcome back, Poison The Well! Please don’t leave it another 17 years before the next one.