Unwritten Law - Here’s To The Mourning 
By Chris Stum

Unwritten Law - Here’s To The Mourning 
Label: Lava/Atlantic
Rating: 

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard "Save Me", the first single from Unwritten Law’s latest offering entitled Here’s To The Mourning. The band has been making their rounds on the late night circuit appearing on the Tonight Show, The Late Show and Last Call with everybody’s friend, Carson Daly. One may start to wonder, with all of these television appearances is it just strategic promotional planning or is the album really that good? Let me tell ya folks, the album is just that good.

I was first introduced to Unwritten Law with their last release entitled Elva. I remember getting the album and listening to it non-stop for about 3 days. What I didn’t know however, is that the band had been together since the early ‘90's and had years of touring and previous albums under their belts. If experience and hard work truly equals success, than let it be known that Unwritten Law deserves every ounce of recognition they are receiving these days. Not only does their latest album Here’s To The Mourning (Lava/Atlantic) go even further to develop and define the brand of pop punk rock the band is well known for, but it’s just one hell of a record from beginning to end.

Here’s To The Mourning does pick up right from where their previous effort "Elva" left off. This is relieving to know simply because some bands try to expand or redefine their sound and end up failing miserably. Unwritten Law goes the opposite direction and continues to provide songs that spin and weave pop sensibilities and their punk background into a web of catchy rock anthems that have attitude, energy and staying power. 

What you won’t find on Here’s To The Mourning is another "Seein’ Red", the song that seemed to have put the band on the "map" so to speak. The new album is filled with straightforward rockers that are a fresh take on the bands established sound and performances which ooze with 10 plus years of determination and effort. 

The lead off track on the new album is entitled "Get Up", a wide open rocker starting us off on the right foot. Exhibit A: Scott Russo (Lead Vocals). "Business as usual, 1,2,3." are lyrics which are the backbone of the chorus presented in sing along fashion with memorable melodies.

Exhibit B: Production. Incredible job by producer Sean Beavan (NIN, Marilyn Manson) who has captured each instrument and the passion and energy it was performed with. Exhibit C: This is Unwritten Law at it’s finest, straight forward rock, no strings attached. It’s already obvious that the band is not guilty of doing anything besides being themselves. 

The album continues on with "Celebration Song" and "Because Of You" showcasing the wide range of Scott Russo’s vocals and displaying the talents of new drummers Tony Palermo and Adrian Young. Palermo (formerly The Jealous Sound and Pulley) has since become a full time member of the band, obviously a wise choice. Along with bassist Pat Kim, the rhythm section holds down a strong backbeat of not only complex but sometimes simple rhythm patterns. Guitarists Steve Morris and Rob Brewer provide the perfect backdrop of clean and distorted riffs in "Save Me" but let it all out with heavier riffs in songs such as "Slow Dance" and "Rejections Cold." These contributions are the same that truly help define the sound of the entire album. 

With Here’s To The Mourning Unwritten Law has shown that they have set out to prove nothing to nobody, they really don’t need to. They have established themselves as one of the top rock bands today by being themselves and staying focused on their music. So here’s to the mourning, and here’s to another 10 years of Unwritten Law.
 

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