What began as a steady stream of singles releases in 2022 have merged into the calm waters of a full length album, Microwave return to add to a celebrated discography hailed as one of the strongest in alt-rock/emo. There is a weightlessness to this new album, beginning with borderline ASMR vocals over lush and lucid guitars. It’s meditative and it perfectly introduces this incredibly chill but poignant journey, so shake off the negativity and embrace optimism.
Never losing sense of who they are but wanting to embrace a post-pandemic positive approach There is an R&B and psychedelic ambience shining and feeding the home soil. It’s a wonderful hybrid blooming and flourishing to give us a paragon of pure positivity and motivation, it’s got an abundance of hopeful energy to share while giving you food for thought.
‘Ferrari’ is our introduction to Nathan Hardys vocals and his voice is such a soothing companion for the album, it’s less aggressive and even with out the ever present backing screams of Tyler Hill the full impact of the band does not play second fiddle to the trippier instrumentation, it’s a delightful ingredient successfully enlightening the albums intentions. The pop elements sit so comfortably around the albums core, benefitting the sound and message tremendously with catchiness and simplicity.
“Microwave reset and reemerged at the pace benefitting themselves and their music, ultimately paying off in abundance”
If reading this you worry it lacks some bite then do not fret as singles ‘Circling the Drain’ and ‘Bored of Being Sad’ uplift and punch the air with vigour like Microwave do so well, the guitars wail and the drums drive with such satisfaction, both musing on the tired notion of romanticised sadness. The attitude of relinquishing negativity is in every breadcrumb the album leaves for you along the way, there is an expectation to come across the world-weary lyrics the genre is known but the immense presence of a more promising outlook is celebratory. Armed with songs built for the summer like Omni where the bass is bouncing with excitement as Hardys vocals glide from ear to ear is a joyous experience as they deliver it so effortlessly.
Closing the album with the effortless ‘Huperzine’ is a lasting impression that ties a wonderful bow on a breezy twenty eight minutes. The balance of creating a leisurely listening experience while still commanding attention to every word is a testament to the bands less pessimistic attitude. Lets Start Degeneracy puts them in the same bracket as Manchester Orchestra and Citizen when it comes to versatility in their discography. Armed with an inviting new mindset hard not to like, if they continue this ascendancy into territory so inviting new fans will flock, but those around since Stovall will always be respected.
Microwave are not here to wallow after feeling the sting of the pandemic with plans for their last album Death is a Warm Blanket. They reset and reemerged at the pace benefitting themselves and their music, ultimately paying off in abundance by delivering a breath of fresh air to the lungs so lay back on the grass in the summers and take one of the most delightful trips around.