A drop of incredibly aware dynamics has made the record Island Fire by Whale Bones the most potent one yet. Between their constant crashes of melancholic cleans and punching rhythmic patterns, the record rides through natural ups and downs with biting lyrics and emotional relevancy. Opening the record is the title track, which has the heavy weight of watching one’s life crumble away before them. It sets up the record’s dark tone perfectly, giving an insight to where the band’s apex of passion comes from, the lens of their eyes and the sound of their bursting heart. “Once Bitten” has some of the most intense crescendos on the release, soaring with vocal harmonies over a desolate guitar lead. The charging pulse into a beautiful crash that ends just as desolate as where it began. Then, out of nowhere “Twice Shy” picks up the riff and brings it back to life with syncopated drums roaring behind. This is just an all around phenomenal release.
New Noise Magazine is pleased to be bringing forth the exclusive, in depth track by track of Island Fire by Whale Bones.
01. Island Fire – For a long time, I’ve felt random twinges of fear, but I was only recently able to give it a name. A little over a year ago, I was too afraid of the world to get out of bed. Somehow I was able to write this song during that time. It was extremely helpful in processing my emotions and understanding what I was feeling. This song serves as an introduction to themes and concepts that will show up throughout the record.
This song more literally references a fire that sprung up on an island in Canada. Some campers hadn’t tended to their fire well enough, and the embers ended up growing into a full fire. After the fire had been taken care of by firefighters, I climbed on the island and took a few photos that ended up being the album artwork.
02. I’ll Try – This song is a reflection on my life choices and things that have been presented to me. At the time of writing this, I felt like I was further away from who I wanted to be. I knew that if I put in effort, I could reach a point where I was happy with my moral character. I explored the idea of an apocalypse-type situation: If the world were ending, would I repent for who I was? Would I hold on to the same fears that limit me? Or would I stop giving into what’s comfortable and instead focus on what is right and good? The song ends with me acknowledging my mistakes and admitting guilt.
03. Inaction – Following along the concept of fear that is pervasive throughout this record, Inaction focuses on how I tend to run away from people who try to reach a deeper connection with me. Decisions seem to have a sense of permanence to me, so choosing to act on anything has to be incredibly deliberate and intentional. The risk involved with emotional intimacy is overwhelming. Instead of taking that chance to open up to someone and grow together, I so often choose to cut myself off in order to preserve a level of comfort. I don’t feel a sense of companionship or understanding, but I’m not experiencing any extreme fallout or pain. In the song, I question people’s dedication and intention, because I want to feel safe before making any decisions. Because I’ve chosen to keep myself at a distance from everyone for so long, I’ve gained nothing.
04. Reciprocation – This song focuses on the concept of putting in effort to maintain something while feeling like the other side is pulling away. After experiencing this on multiple occasions, I began to have a lot of mistrust and doubt. This feeling has made me move towards an ideal of self-reliance. This song is really emotionally draining, but the ending is really gratifying and helps me process my feelings in a really visceral way.
05/06. Begging for Light/Desperate Lie – As far as I’m concerned, people are too quick to move into and through relationships. Like I mentioned in Inaction, I question people’s motives and intentions. I think people use relationships in order to validate their own worth instead of to grow closer to someone with whom they are really compatible. I don’t really have sympathy for people who use someone else to give their own life purpose. There tends to be a perpetual cycle of going from person to person and continually being hurt. It feels very passion-driven, instead of a careful, conscious decision. This song is sort of a declaration of my unwillingness to support or encourage their patterns.
07/08. Once Bitten, Twice Shy – At the time of writing this song, I felt like I was being suppressed by various elements in my life. I felt like my ideals and perspective were not being valued, and I was instead being expected to give in to what other people wanted. There was a level of hostility that I was allowing to be placed on me. I kept my own thoughts to myself for fear of being a contrarian or hurting someone else, but I in turn was allowing myself to be suppressed and hurt. This song is sort of a plea for reason and mutual respect, but it develops into frustration and rebellion after realizing that collaboration and compromise is not an option. I ended up acknowledging the position I had landed in and rejecting it.
09. Backyard – This song is an explanation of generalized hopes for my future. Concepts of good moral standing, strong emotional connections, peace of mind, and fulfillment feel pretty elusive in my life, and in the beginning of this song I am explaining my desire to reach those. The backyard represents a more private, spiritual, and intimate part of life that I think shows our purest nature. The front yard represents a more materialistic and hedonist-oriented character that I think people are drawn to but should avoid. As the song progresses, I explain how I intend to be more open to positivity and growth in my life. By refusing to indulge in fear and pain, and instead focusing on the good things in life, I hope to find a home with the ideals I list at the beginning.
10 Contrition – I took a different perspective with this song. Instead of focusing on how elements affect me, I wrote about how my actions affect other people. I know that because I’m often driven (or more so hindered) by fear, I’ve come across as stoic, uninterested, or hurtful. While I don’t think that my actions necessarily are as impactful as I perceive them to be, I still know that they can have a negative effect on people. This song is essentially an apology for who I have been, and explains my genuine remorse and my resolution to be a better person to and for the people I care about.
11. The Warmth – This was the last song to be finished on the record, as is probably evident by the change in tone. It starts by acknowledging that my friends are there for me and that it’s okay to open up to them and let them in for support and growth. The warmth being their goodness and sincere care. Like in Contrition, I focus on how fear has affected my interpersonal relationships and overall happiness, but from a perspective of progression instead of depression. I tend to catastrophize and also assume that I am a worse person than I actually am. By spending time with people I care about, I’m able to see that I’m undeserving of the strain I put on myself. I recognize that even in times of pain and anxiety, I am still surrounded by special people that will help me endure.
The album ends with the line “Fend off the shadows of the things you used to be”, and I feel this to be a strong summary of the entire work. My own perception and emotions have clouded my judgement for a long time. This record is about acknowledging what is going on in my life and working to be better for myself and others.
7.9 – Syracuse, NY – Westcott Vineyard
7.10 – West Haven, CT – The Cave
7.11 – Amityville, NY – Amityville Music Hall
7.12 – Garwood, NJ – Crossroads
7.13 – Mount Joy, PA – Bubes Brewery
7.14 – Baltimore, MD – House Show
7.15 – Columbus, OH – Donatos Basement
