Review: The Breathing Method – ‘After Everything Else’

With the members of Scottish quintet The Breathing Method being – and said with respect – that bit older than the average fledgling band, they have the advantage of life experience. This shows throughout the debut album ‘After Everything Else’.

‘Demons’ is a strong example of this. Perhaps in the hands of artists who have yet to fully take on all the slings and arrows that life throws at you, it might have gone in a different direction. Possibly more of a saccharine-filled approach full of sweeping arrangements. Here though, it’s the offspring of ‘Sap’/’Jar of Flies’ Alice in Chains with Alice Cooper ‘Dwight Fry’-like vocals from Scott Booth. The spoken-word samples that land in the middle of the song add an unsettling, almost confessional touch.

The influence of Northern Ireland’s ultimate noise merchants Therapy? looms large on ‘After Everything Else’ with the excellent ‘Unbearable’ being a prime example. Booth asks “How can you sleep at night knowing what you’ve done/Taking our livelihoods or children’s food whilst yours will wish for none” before adding “I can’t respect you…I won’t respect you” on a track that bubbles under with an underlying menace that threatens to explode at anytime (and it does toward the end with Booth letting loose some harsh screams as the buzzsaw riffs come to life).

The grit and realism found in the vocals of Therapy’s Andy Cairns shows up in the vocals of The Breathing Method frontman Scott Booth. That same unschooled rawness, and during a time when most young vocalists overstretch and show a lack of restraint, it’s refreshing that Booth is happy to stay in his comfort zone and not overreach. And like Therapy? The Breathing Method offers variety by the bucketload, and at times the listener is wondering just what is lurking around the corner.

There is much to admire on ‘After Everything Else’: parts of ‘Burden’ offer a slight industrial touch here and there, while other parts scream Joy Division (likewise ‘Secrets’ has elements of the sparse, post-punk sound that made the Manc pioneers such trailblazers); ‘Tragic Confusion’ is a creepy motherfucker that builds with some gorgeous guitar tones from James Dougan and – getting back to the restraint and experience from the players – where many others would add an explosion of sound as a money shot, these guys trick the listener by keeping the track at a snarling, slow-burning pace throughout; ‘Jupiter’ is a bit of a banger and had ‘All Of My Dreams’ not been so strong then this one might have edged it as highlight of the album. Special mention to the engine room team of Gee McClure on bass, and Duncan Brown on drums, for their work on the latter – this one will no doubt slay when played live. Stick around for a minute though when ‘Jupiter’ fades out for some studio shenanigans.

An album to light a fire under those who have chosen to react with apathy to the dumpster fire of the last few years.

‘After Everything Else’ is self-released on January 24th. More information, below:

Official website: https://thebreathingmethod.band
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thebreathingmethodofficial

Review – Dave

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