Trash Boat has had an interesting trajectory since their formation a decade ago. The British group’s earlier efforts fell somewhere between pop punk and melodic hardcore, treading similar ground as bigger names like The Wonder Years, A Day To Remember, and A Wilhelm Scream. But over time their sound has expanded significantly, with 2021’s Don’t You Feel Amazing pushing into alternative metal and even industrial rock territory. In some ways it was reminiscent of the type of shapeshifting Bring Me The Horizon has done throughout their career, and this caught some of the established fanbase by surprise. Three years later the band has returned with Heaven Can Wait, which continues to explore a wide range of rock and metal styles while also bringing back some of their earlier sound. It’s a shapeshifting album where you’re never quite sure what you’re in for next, and while not every song fully lands there are plenty of strong hooks that make this an exciting listen.
If there’s one thing Trash Boat deserves credit for, it’s the amount of variety they can hit from one song to the next. Early on “…Burn” has a sound that has hints of nu-metal in its effects and bass lines, but the main hook taps into a more alternative metal Deftones feel, but as soon as you transition into “Be Someone” the sound transitions into another combination of genres. Here the main chorus has an alternative rock/metal tone but the verses in between bring back some of the punchier melodic hardcore/pop punk while bringing some metalcore heaviness into the mix. As you make your way through Heaven Can Wait this balance of heavier and moodier instrumentation with bigger pop hooks and bright spots is common. Sometimes this comes together as a more radio-hook style track with more pop elements, while other songs double down on the aggression and stick more on the metal end of the spectrum. “The Drip” and “Delusions of Grandeur” even sound like an indie/alternative rock tracks that was ripped out of the mid-2000s, but it’s done in a way that still has an identity of its own. Despite how many different styles are crammed into a little over half an hour, the transitions are seamless and Trash Boat has successfully brought together the alternative/nu-metal slant of their last album with the hardcore and pop punk of their earlier discography. There are a few moments that didn’t quite hit the mark for me, as “Better Than Yesterday” is a bit too generic and “Lazy” lives up to its name by just kind of fading out without finishing things off with a bang. But everything else is strong enough that I’ve kept coming back to hear what elements stand out on repeat listens, plus I can’t think of too many albums that remind me of everything from Adema to Muse depending on which song I’m on.
Tobi Duncan continues to be a major asset for Trash Boat, as he is able to adapt his performance to whatever direction the rest of the band is going in. “…Burn” is a great example earlier on, as the first minute or so has moodier singing mixed in with some nu-metal distortion and a little bit of screaming, but by the time you hit the chorus Duncan is soaring over the recording with an airier yet powerful tone. The amount of range that is used throughout Heaven Can Wait is impressive, as songs tend to go from their softest and lightest pitches into full-on screaming without any awkward transitions. Like the instrumentation, there are a lot of groups Trash Boat’s vocals remind me of but they hit so many styles that they stand on their own. Early on there was more Deftones, but later songs like “Break You” are comparable to more recent alternative bands like Teenage Wrist. There are also two guest spots on the first half, with I Prevail’s Eric Vanlerberghe contributing some extra screams and growls to “Be Someone” while Crossfaith’s Kenta Koie backs up Duncan on “filthy/RIGHTEOUS (feat. Kenta Koie of Crossfaith)”.
A few of the softer tracks don’t quite stand out over repeat listens, but there’s plenty here to keep fans of everything rock, punk, and metal to happy. This album capitalizes on the angst and heavier riffs of the nu/alternative revival that’s currently going on alongside hardcore/metalcore and a healthy dose of rock, and there are plenty of moments that will stick with listeners after the first time through. But most importantly, it has some slight dips back into Trash Boat’s earlier sound and bridges the gap between their earlier years and the 2021 album. It’ll be interesting to hear just where they go next, as there are plenty of potential paths. Heaven Can Wait is available from Hopeless Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg