ALBUM REVIEW: STEPSON - HELP ME, HELP YOU
Brisbane punk/metalcore band, Stepson, are releasing their debut album, Help Me, Help You, on the 26th of March. This is definitely one you won’t want to miss! Featuring eleven songs, their album combines new styles of music with the familiarity of their earlier EPs.
The opening track, Learning To Let Go, starts with a gradual buildup and is promptly followed with a drum fill. It certainly won’t take fans long to start head-banging along to this track!
Released last year, Run is fast-paced and energetic. I loved the intro for this song. Beginning with a catchy drum beat, the heavy vocals soon take over the show!
Deeper Sleep features sick drum fills, a catchy chorus and an awesome guitar solo! Of the song, lead vocalist and frontman Brock Alan Conry says it’s “…about insecurities that can carry over from past, abusive relationships.”
The next track stands out amongst the others. Who Are We sounds more melodic and laid-back, with the mellow intro and Brock’s clean vocals. Don’t be fooled, this one still has its punk moments!
Fans should be familiar with the next one. The Entire History Of You was initially released in 2019. One of my favourites on the album, it has heavy breakdowns, fast drums and sick guitar riffs.
For I Wish, Stepson explored different genres and fused them together. Featuring techno beats, and synth sound effects, I can guarantee you’ve never heard something quite like this before!
Dilemma begins with a mellow acoustic guitar and some percussion before the drums and yells come in! I really loved this song, particularly with how the band switched between the two contrasting sounds of the acoustic guitar and the heavy vocals.
Come With Me is a lot heavier than some of the other songs. Incorporating tom fills, double kicks and guitar shredding, what’s not to love! Stay tuned for the sick breakdown in the middle of the song, you won’t be disappointed!
This next song, Hush, features clean vocals from Zach Britt, the multi-instrumentalist from Melbourne band Dream On, Dreamer. Their vocals complement each other nicely and they create a nice back-and-forth throughout the song.
The Shift, The Blur fluctuates between being catchy and upbeat, and being heavy and fast-paced. I really liked the soft vocals and melodic guitar in the outro section.
The final track, Say Something is a perfect conclusion to the album. Starting with a slow build-up into a loud drum section, this song feels and sounds uplifting. The lyrics encourage listeners to not give up and speak out when you need help, something that is especially important now more than ever.
Help Me, Help You has something for all Stepson fans to love! Touching on similar themes of toxic relationships, insecurities and self-doubt, fans will be familiar with the lyrical content. Incorporating multiple different genres together, Stepson have created a truly special album.
