New Zealand band [shift]'s debut album The Traveller is one that you'll want to turn the volume up for.
The independent four piece's sound plays in the same ball-park as Californian rockers Switchfoot and a more radio friendly Incubus. [shift] hit heavy with shredding guitars, layered over alternative rock riffs and crashing symbols on opening track The Blood.
But that's not all there is to The Traveller. The way each sound fits together across the album makes it is clear that a lot of thought has been placed into the recording and song writing process. Lead guitar pieces flow melodically over top of interesting, rhythmically charged bass lines, to build and fall away just at the right moments.
Lyrically The Traveller takes you through songs filled with poetic introspection. Musically, you journey from solemn and delicate tracks Anyway and Armour, to the harder rock of Preacher Man Death, then on to dreamy blues influenced songs Julia and Citadel.
Hey Now brings a pop-rock vibe, with echoed notes, playful vocals and fast distorted guitar strums. As does the record's first single In the Middle - which after a few listens has you singing along.
Jerusalem has an epic feel to it - particularly through the chorus - as front man Sam Burrows' warm vocals, treated with a slightly gritted reverb, cry out over rolling drums and singing guitar solos.
The Traveller is a solid and thoughtful pop-rock album, bringing more to the table than your average pop track.
