Atlanta based group Issues are set to release their newest album Beautiful Oblivion via Rise Records on Friday, October 4th, 2019. I see this album as a rebirth of Issues after the departure of their unclean vocalist Michael Bohn in early 2018. Beautiful Oblivion marks a new chapter for the group. The album takes the band’s signature cocktail of metallic groove, hip-hop beats, alternative echoes, and edgy pop appeal a step further. The group has delivered an instantly irresistible collection of anthems where singer Tyler Carter’s quick delivery seamlessly slips from R&B swagger into hard-hitting heaviness. The band’s third full-length features 11 tracks that meld together everything from R&B to Pop, to Metal.
Beautiful Oblivion opens with the track “Here’s to You,” and the result is a melancholic break-up song that explores a million aspects of Issues’ musical personality, and much like the band who crafted the track completely defies categorization. Next, Carter’s sultry falsetto anchors their first single from the album, “Drink About It.” A funky, electronic orchestration and groovy rock n roll coupled together to create something that makes being cheated on sound like magic. “Drink About It” is something I feel everyone can relate to,” says Carter. “The song, quite frankly, is about cheater being found out by their unfortunate partner. The idea is this: ‘I think you know… you know something… how much do you know…? I’m just gonna let them sweat it out a little bit.’ But that play on words is also saying, ‘You’re all I drink about’ and at this point, I wanna sweat you out of my system.”
They go darker and dig deeper, taking the gloves off for “Tapping Out,” a slamming dismissal of a toxic relationship. They slow it down a bit with a piano ballad titled, “Your Sake” that makes heartfelt, emotional confessions in the name of sincerity, and winds the album slowly down to its grand finale. Ultimately, they opt to go out blazing with the vocal theatrics and sludgy rhythms of “Beautiful Oblivion,” a final reminder that this band is exceptional at what they do.
Beautiful Oblivion is filled with relationships that cross the spectrum from self-affirming to emotionally draining to downright toxic. Throughout these eleven reflections on the personal ups and downs natural in being human, Issues offer sharp insights into letting go—and they do it in a way that is rarely seen in today’s music. It’s hard not to appreciate a band who are genuinely doing something unique in an over-saturated field of lookalikes, it’s clear to see just how much effort has been put into pretty much every aspect of this album, and how Issues have singlehandedly yanked themselves back from the brink of implosion to becoming one of modern metalcore’s premier talents once again. Issues will embark on a headline tour with Polyhpia, Lil Aaron and Sleep Token starting on November 7 so make sure to go check out a show if it is coming to your city and be sure to pick up Beautiful Oblivion this Friday.
