Equal Vision Records – 21 AUG 2020
Ignore the pedigree, hear the punch
The thing about Be Well is that expectations have been very high since their formation. Featuring members of Bane, Fairweather, Converge and Darkest Hour behind Brian McTernan of DC’s Battery and super-producer behind Salad Days Studios it would hard not to have preconceived notions of who the band will be or what their debut full-length The Weight and The Cost would sound like. This review will not be based on their pedigree though. Be Well doesn’t need its past platitudes because this is a band greater than the sum of its parts. Despite all of the classics its members have worked on, this may be the most enjoyable release in any of their resumes.
The band does not disappoint, performing melodic hardcore at the highest possible level. From start to finish the LP is littered with “wait play that again” moments spoiling listeners with ingredients perfectly measured out, a pinch of gang vocals, a dash of feedback and a dollop of aggression. A perfect balance of self-doubt and uncertainty are peppered throughout the record as McTernan and company tackle the emotional toll of depression, fatherhood and a few decades trying to figure yourself out in the scene.
From the album opener “Meaningless Measures” McTiernan’s vocals run the gamut, seamlessly alternating between anguish pleas and melodic harmonies without any pauses to reset. “Magic” allows listeners inside McTernan’s internal struggle as Be Well accompany the not so internal monologue of regret and worse with driving drums, selling guitars and grooving bass lines. This is the song that best sums up the record as the major themes of self-doubt, uncertain futures, and taking action (for better or otherwise) overwhelm the track.
Those same themes carry “Strength for Breath” but this isn’t a McTernan focused on himself, seemingly written from his unique perspective as a father apologetic for the way his mental state presents to his children. This song will probably resonate hardest with people who’ve lived that moment when you realize your silent suffering isn’t yours alone. It’s one of those “if you know you know” moments.
The title track really brings nuance and subtlety to the record, allowing the musicianship to really shine over McTernan’s deeply personal vocals. The band presents a musical tug of war, showing off a wide range of influences including harDCore, Long Island Hardcore, and Midwestern emo. When you combine the multiple sub-genres with the apologetic introspection it is the aural definition of resiliency Be Well deserves.
The album continues on this push-pull path of self-loathing and self-discovery. It was not unintentional that the review only covers the first half of Be Well’s debut. This is not an album you need to hear any more about from me because this record doesn’t need a hype man. I can not imagine another album in the next four months resonating as hard as this one does. As a father and a fan of the scene, The Weight and The Cost hits in all of the feels.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
