Album Review: We Set Sail ‘Feel Nothing’

Brisbane’s self-proclaimed “sad bastards” We Set Sail are back and have released their second full-length album, ‘Feel Nothing’. After forming in 2008, this 5-piece can be best described as a hybrid of grunge, post-rock, and emotional alt-rock. Think a modern version of The Smashing Pumpkins or a more refined Nirvana.

‘Feel Nothing’ follows their 2013 debut album ‘Rivals’, and the sophomore’s been long awaited for cult fans. The feel of this album is soft and sad with a grungy edge – in other words, the perfect soundtrack to unleash your inner troubles to.

Shoegazey guitar effects introduce the album in Animal, Mineral, Vegetable. Hard-hitting rhythms climb the song up into a powerful and emotive peak. The voice heightens, the tension rises, and it’s instantly clear that this group know how to make a emotionally powerful tune.

Following a strong welcome, This Machine Destroys Everything! features heavy grungy guitar chords over a slowed up percussive beat that dips in and out of grungy ambience. The track gives off super-moody alt-rock vibes and features lots of tuned-down distortion in the guitar and bass parts.

Snails flows along in a soft anthem-style ballad with natural clean vocals and the grungy guitars and percussion that has become familiar. This track is one of the more upbeat and comforting ones from the compilation, and it carries through. Reminders Written On Maps moves the album into a softer, cleaner sound that earns them the title “sad bastards”. Don’t worry, it’s done really well and the sensitive chord progressions and dominant vocals continue to cement the melancholy mood. 

How Did It Go Last Night? sounds like a sequel to Reminders Written On Maps and the percussion make a stronger appearance here. The famous “dejected alt-rock” persona comes alive with strong vocals and a mix of clean and dirty guitar tones that blend into a poetic tune.

“It’s a single layer of crispy clean acoustics and warm singing that dims the lights and bows the album out with grace.”

This Could Be the Tragedy We’ve Been Waiting For continues to carry the sad alt-rock theme, keeping things slow and clean with sombre guitar and vocals. The soft instrumentation helps this song move seamlessly into the next. Understanding This Is Not a Car Crash sounds the most ballad-like of the album with melodic finger-picking on guitars and ever-so-subtle percussion that creates a wistful vibe.

Pet Cemetery’s acoustic breaks and thick sections create a divide between light and heavy and keeps this song rolling along seamlessly. It keeps emotive but that dense guitar tone that gives this album its grungy texture features heavily on this one.

Space Jam brings the drums back to life with an addictive rhythm, and the vocals are strong over the shoegaze-inspired guitar reverb lurking in the background. This track is an emotive and really fitting way to wrap up the album. Polly Molly is a bonus track from ‘Feel Nothing’ and goes completely unplugged. It’s a single layer of crispy clean acoustics and warm singing that dims the lights and bows the album out with grace.

Most of the songs in this album sound similar to each other, but it’s not exactly a bad thing! Everything ties in intricately and ‘Feel Nothing’ successfully creates a strong mood that sticks from start to finish. We Set Sail have cemented themselves as awesome, moody alt-rockers through this album. Check out Reminders Written On Maps below!