HomeMusicAlbum Review: Cartel, 'Collider'

Album Review: Cartel, ‘Collider’

nicole calascibetta collides…

Cartel-Collider-Leak

Cartel’s new album Collider is a bright, energetic record that enforces the pop-punk mantra of keeping a PMA (positive mental attitude) and has squeaky clean production value that highlights the quick-tempo instrumentals. While the colorful tones on Collider are likely to categorize it as a summer soundtrack for Pop-Punk lovers, I’m still wary if it will provide any summer hits.

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The track that stood out the most was “Disconnect” — because it delivers the most oomph, both lyrically and instrumentally: “We won’t give up/ we won’t give in/ we won’t give anything again/ we’re on our own, got to finish it, we can’t let anything resist/ we never wanted it to be like this/ just keep pushing till the pieces fit/ can we disconnect.” It was certainly the strongest track and I only wish the entirety of Collider could pack this much of a punch.

“Uninspired” is the first single released off of Collider for free online streaming and it actually happened to be my least favorite track off of the album. Pop-punk music thrives off of catchy hooks, and “Uninspired” just drags. I was happy to find the rest of the record surpassed the single and in its entirety, Collider is fun, lively and has some depth.

Throughout Collider, the instrumentals are tight-knit and the singing has ample time to breathe in-between verses rather than rushing through them. A perfect example of this can be heard on the third track, “First Things First.” The drums stand out by setting the tone and really brighten up this record.

With a similar sound to Yellowcard and The Starting Line, Cartel’s Collider is an aggressive attempt to break the mold. It’s obvious in the opening track, “Second Chances:” “I’ve been waiting for answers/ I’ve been looking for a reason/ So I could start all over again/ Erase and rewind back from the end/ All I ever wanted to be is/ Something real/ Something important/ But I’m so damn disappointed.”

This album is certainly a step forward for Cartel, but it feels as if they’re trying to find a new direction and Collider is the record in between Chroma (2006) and Cycles (2009) and a more developed sound that’s yet to come. All I can say is that it’s almost there — and while the listeners will be no doubt be satisfied with the end result, I don’t think we’ve yet heard the final product from Cartel.

Cartel will be performing at this year’s Skate and Surf Festival in Freehold, NJ on May 19. Click here for tickets.

Pop-Break Staff
Pop-Break Staffhttps://thepopbreak.com
Founded in September 2009, The Pop Break is a digital pop culture magazine that covers film, music, television, video games, books and comics books and professional wrestling.
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