1	Alive (ft. Tobi Duncan)
2	Paralysis
3	DXWN
4	Criminal
5	Disconnected
6	Six Feet Down (ft. WAVED)
7	Catacombs
8	Satellite
9	Fever
10	Good Enough (ft. Mercedes Arn-Horn)

Led By Lanterns

Paralysis

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ft. Mercedes Arn-Horn, Tobi Duncan, WAVED.
Genre: Alternative Rock.
Released: 28/01/2022

Album Review: Led By Lanterns – Paralysis

Led By Lanterns are here with their new album titled ‘Paralysis’. After finding a decent amount of success from touring with bands such as Normandie and Mallory Knox, the band will be hoping to continue their momentum with the release of their self-released album. Here is what I thought of Led By Lanterns ‘Paralysis’.

Kicking off the album is ‘Alive’, an upbeat track that gives off some great vibes with its use of chord progressions and imaginative lyrics. It has a real unique style to it almost mixing the modern pop-punk blend with a more progressive feel. Not to mention just how to kick ass the feature from Trash Boat’s Tobi Duncan is. Following that is the title track ‘Paralysis’, which utilises a nicely executed build of suspense to unleash the track’s chorus upon the listener. The contrasting styles on display throughout the track really elevate the song as a whole.

Up next is ‘DXWN’, a decent entry into the album that has some creative execution of some riffs. as a whole, the song is quite relaxed and doesn’t throw too many punches however the more simplistic nature is a refreshing change of pace for the album. ‘Criminal’ opts for a more electronic synth sort of feel and I personally couldn’t get on with it. The song’s chorus is catchy however some of the tones featured throughout the track just seem very synthetic and at times they just don’t fit the track’s progression.

Continuing down the album and ‘Disconnected’ has a lot of potential however it feels like something is missing. The use of reverb is a nice touch on the vocal bridge while the instrumental has quite a nice groove to it yet I can’t help but think something isn’t right. Maybe it’s just not my thing so I’d still recommend giving this song a chance. ‘Six Feet Down’ helps to get things back on track with its great percussion track as well as having a very simple yet engaging chorus that should sound great in a live environment.

The addition of ‘Catacombs’ adds a lot of depth to the record. The sudden changes from a more heavy style to a more melodically driven one is such a breath of fresh air. Arguably one of the top songs on the record for me. Everything from the vocal delivery to the way the bass line gives the song a real bouncy feel just works a treat and the breakdown is a pleasant addition. On the flip side, ‘Satellite’ just does not work for me. The song comes across as a bit generic at times and the overly repetitive nature of the instrumental just makes the song feel like it drags.

As the album draws to a close, I genuinely had to check if I was listening to the right song as the opening sounds a bit too similar to the previous song. Despite that I found the song to be a bit more adventurous with its use of instrumental stutters and the natural flow of the music is quite satisfying. Concluding the album is ‘Good Enough’, an emotionally driven song that really stands out from the crowd. The harmonies created by Shaun Hill and Mercedes Arn-Horn from Softcult are quite breathtaking and the instrumental is delicate yet precise which compliments the two contrasting vocal styles.

Overall, I think Led By Lanterns have dropped a decent record that shows that they have a lot of potential. The album does have its flaws however there is a tonne of quality music on display here and with a bit more experience I think the band could really thrive.