Album Review: Basement ‘Promise Everything’

Ladies and gentlemen! The time has come to chuck on your best flannelette shirt and prepare to stage dive, because Basement is back and sounding bigger than ever! We got an early listen to the English lads new album ‘Promise Everything’, and it has us frothin’.

After abruptly announcing an indefinite hiatus only weeks after the release of their 2012 breakthrough album ‘Colourmeinkindness’, Basement has gone on to gain an intensely devoted posthumous following. In 2014 the band reconnected and found time amongst other obligations to write and record EP ‘Further Sky’.

“Despite years spent apart, it would seem Basement’s musical conversation has always lingered.”

‘Promise Everything’ is the band’s first time back to full-length writing and recording since their hiatus. Sonically, the record breaks progressive new ground for Basement despite the creative process sharing much in common with previous endeavours.

Lead single Aquasun is everything you’d expect from the Basement boys. With an opening riff ready to turn crowds absolutely mental at first strum, the melodically driven song combines everything we love about previous Basement releases and gels it with a grungey melancholy vibe that nostalgically reflects early 2000s rock.

However, ‘Promise Everything’ does contain the odd slow burner that might catch religious fans off guard. The gentle groove of Oversized and haunting peacefulness of Halo neatly break up the intensity of the album. The soft melody and instrumentation is a reflection of Basement’s mature growth over their career and adds a new element that works nicely alongside the bands current alt-rock sound.

‘Promise Everything’ situates Basement at the forefront of the rock world, pairing aggression with an inherent sense of melody.  Where before on the band’s previous album ‘Colourmeinkindness’, songs focused more on aggression and lyrical content, ‘Promise Everything’ takes a more melodic approach and as a result the songs feel like they are truly part of the same group. Despite years spent apart, it would seem Basement’s musical conversation has always lingered.

Basement will make their long awaited return to Australian shores in May, bringing with them local hardcore legends Break Even and a set that is not to be missed.

BASEMENT AUSTRALIAN TOUR

MON 23 MAY
The Triffid, Brisbane 18+

TUE 24 MAY
The Lab, Brisbane AA

THU 26 MAY
Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle AA

FRI 27 MAY
Factory Theatre, Sydney AA

SAT 28 MAY
Arrows On Swanston, Melbourne AA

SUN 29 MAY
Corner Hotel, Melbourne 18+

MON 30 MAY
Fowlers Live, Adelaide AA

TUE 31 MAY
Amplifier Bar, Perth 18+

Get Your Tickets HERE