The XCERTS – i think i want to go home now.
It takes a certain calibre of musician to be able to bottle the rage of youth with the wise mindset of age; Aberdeen-born, Brighton-based The XCERTS have done just that on their sixth album
Formed in 2001, Aberdeen's The XCERTS never reached the heights of their fast/slow DNA brothers Biffy Clyro and Twin Atlantic, but they should have. Their new album, i think i want to go home now., shows exactly why. A punchy, euphoric blend of anger and melodic softness, it sees Murray Macleod attempting to make sense of the world after his father’s cancer diagnosis. Following the opening title track, do it to myself offers an incendiary pop-punk blast full of barbed-wire guitars and brain-rattling bass with the all-important quieter breakdown as Macleod repeatedly questions: 'Will it always be like this?', while another highlight comes in the form of the driving Smashing Pumpkins-style love song, sinking feeling.
There's also the screamo of pretty ugly, but the album isn’t all about decibels designed to melt your brain. A more tender side is shown in songs like dream you in, rinse repeat and in your eyes, which comes close to Snow Patrol in its earnest yearning. losing it is the high point of the softer side of The XCERTS, a big melodic beating heart questioning everything as Macleod asks, 'Do I still make my parents proud?' It takes a certain calibre of musician to be able to bottle the rage of youth with the wise mindset of age; The XCERTS have done just that on their sixth album.
Listen to: do it to myself, sinking feeling, losing it