Album review: Set It Off – Set It Off

On Set It Off’s sixth album, Cody Carson’s got his hackles up. Tired of people apparently pissing in his cornflakes on a regular basis, the liars, the manipulators and the fakes are all having their masks pulled off. ‘So say goodbye to your Mr. Nice Guy / You got your wish, he's rotting in Hell,’ he snaps on early single Punching Bag’s blazing chorus. That defiance befits not only the Tampa trio’s first album as an independent band, but their slide towards a heavier sound. Not incidentally, in the wake of overly glossy predecessor Elsewhere, this is the strongest form they’ve been in for a while.

The guitars might be biting back harder than ever, as evidenced by the contrast of Rotten’s sugary metaphors with its gravel-laced riffs and the breakdown that slices through the latter half of What’s In It For Me, but it’s just one facet of SIO’s evolution. Their approach is more fluid and widescreen than ever, and, of course, always loaded with hooks.

The driving SWITCH is one of the catchiest examples, infused with a dark anticipation as Cody braces himself for yet another deception. ‘Make it quick / Throw me the noose you want to hang me with,’ he sings, daring yet frightened. As bold as they sound, it’s not always flawless – while his rapping on opener PATHOLOGICAL is certainly slick, the slightly overcooked production and the lack of return to that particular style further down the tracklist makes it feel a little jarring.

Arguably, Set It Off are at their best when their past and present converge. Their orchestral-tinged theatricality of yore has been put down and picked up again but embracing it all over again feels like a conscious celebration of their individuality. Creating Monsters is a joyous update of their roots, layering thumping percussion, brass flourishes and jazz-hands worthy melodies. As a further celebration, older hit Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing is ‘reborn’ in a style that’s richer, darker and punchier than the 2014 original, thick with violin trills and harder riffs than the original (and vocally it’s stronger too). They certainly chose the right time for a self-titled record – this is them at their most self-assured, and of course, their most fun.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Magnolia Park, Stand Atlantic, The Home Team

Set It Off is released independently on November 7