'Trust The River' Review: Sparta strikes the perfect middle ground between genres with first album in 14 years
Sparta returns with their fourth album 'Trust The River', their first in 14 years.
Founded in 2001, Sparta have had a long career and released records to critical acclaim. The band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2008 and overtime most believed the band had disbanded. After clarifying that they hadn't and undergoing a lineup change, they resurfaced in 2017 with the single 'Graveyard Luck', which would turn out to be the first of their new project 'Trust The River'. 'Cat Scream' and a tour announcement followed.
For an album that has been a long time in the making, 'Trust The River' had a lot of expectations to live up to. But Sparta has managed to create an album that is beautifully put together and well thought out. It neither lends itself to excess nor does it fall in the trap of playing it too safe.
Speaking about the long and arduous journey to getting started on this album, vocalist Jim Ward states, "'Believe' is a song that’s been on my desk for 10 years, I’ve recorded numerous versions but couldn’t quite get it where I thought it was ready until now...Once we had the basic track I sent it to my friend Carlos Arevalo from Chicano Batman for some guitar touches and was over the moon with his contribution. I couldn’t think of a better song from Trust the River to kick this new chapter off."
Ward, one of the founding members of the group, has had many personas through his long career that has spanned over multiple genres including post-hardcore, punk, and even country. It is fitting, therefore, that Sparta's sound includes a bit of all these genres that mesh together to form an alternative rock sound with its own edge.
Opener 'Class Blue' is a folk-rock dream. Ward's vocals are absolutely gorgeous against the instrumentals on this track. And the energy it creates continues with 'Cat Scream', which is reminiscent of some good old punk alt-rock. But with 'Turquoise Dream' we're back in a more folksy sound, with layers of blues in the music and wisdom behind the lyrics. You hear Ward sing about a range of topics, including alluding forgetting passion that once burned bright and finding his way back to what once was - perhaps a commentary on his journey from the drama-addled times with the post-hardcore punk rock band At the Drive-In to his time rediscovering himself as part of the alternative country project 'Sleepercar'.
'Spirit Away' is a wonderfully melodic song coupled with a morbidly dark theme - one of two individuals locked into a union, punctuated by haunting lyrics like "Stockholm Syndrome, until death do us part."
As the album continues, all of these elements weave in and out as Ward appears to reflect on what has been and what is still to come. 'Believe', Ward's ten-year-old project, sits in the middle of the album. As he sings "You can never be sure where life will lead / So hold on tight to your beliefs," you hear him acknowledge the ups and downs as if he has finally weathered that storm and is looking upon it from the outside in. He's past it all and in 'Graveyard Luck', he seems to be ready to take life on again.
What Sparta manages to do on this album is find a middle ground between music that draws on where the band came from while also bringing in elements of the direction they seemingly hope to take their sound in. This is still a post-hardcore alt-rock band but one whose sound has matured like a fine wine, just in time to provide the perfect backdrop that complements the depth their lyrics offer on this record.
'Dead End Signs' is possibly the most haunting, pensive track on the album. As Ward softly mulls over living in a dead-end town, he also gently acknowledges that while life may not have gone as planned, it's still "better than it seems." And with 'Miracle', it's clear that Sparta have really embraced this mellow and contemplative alt-rock sound. As the song progresses, it manages to create something that is part bittersweet and part euphoric. Ending on a high, the lyrics "'Cause sometimes, miracles come late" lead us into 'Empty Houses', which really is the culmination of everything Sparta has been and who they are now. The band themselves have described the song as being inspired by the market crash and the vacant houses it left behind, as well as the anxiety of those trying to cope with this loss.
Closing track 'No One Can Be Nowhere' picks up on the somber tone and sound of 'Empty Houses' but quickly builds up to facing down fear as one moves on to better things. This is a song about healing, in its own way, but it isn't one that sugarcoats it. Ward's vocals combined with the lyrics indicate that this journey has seen pain and grief, and while moving on may not mean forgetting, it can mean that it is time to begin anew and try again.
'Trust The River' is a record that tells a story. One of pain and loss, and one of rising from the ashes stronger and wiser. It is vulnerable in its realism and optimistic in its outlook. And to that end, it is wonderfully apt for the times because it doesn't pretend the world is going to be fine if we wish hard enough. On the contrary, it finds strength in reflection and peace in acceptance.
‘TRUST THE RIVER’ TRACKLISTING:
Class Blue
Cat Scream
Turquoise Dream
Spirit Away
Believe
Graveyard Luck
Dead End Signs
Miracle
Empty Houses
No One Can Be Nowhere