The New Jersey electronicore band Palisades are back with a follow up to 2015’s Mind Games with their self-titled album Palisades.

Two years has now passed since Mind Games and after our first listen of their new self-titled album, You can from the start hear a switch in the sound, Mind Games was loved by many and in the same breath hated by others. The merge of metalcore and banging beats can be a bit too much for the hardcore rock enthusiasts.

This album is different though, once Aggression hits you get the feel for a band who has matured and added subtlety to their music , We still here the electronic influences especially in the second track Cold Heart(Warm Blood) but they feel less forced and control the album less. Similar to how Papa Roach added electronics in their album The Connection.

Better Chemicals shows off Miceli’s versatility in his vocals, with soft verses and heavier chorus with some heavy riffs and melodic vocals , this is post hardcore done well with minor electronic influences.

Fall , Let Down and Dark slow the album down and kind of feel like an intermission before one of the best tracks on the album Through Hell –

We recently featured Through Hell as our song of the week , thats how good we think it is! The song starts of with some scat-ish lyrics then a heavy guitar intro , a great way to start the song. You can feel the emotion on this song and would be great to know what influenced the change of pace.

Up next are Memories and Hard Feelings , Both songs edge on the ligher side compared to Through Hell but holds up well and is a solid track the chorus is a particular highlight and with the right sound set up will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! Hard Feelings is another great track and one of our top 3 picks from the album , once again the chorus is the highlight of the song mainly from the raw emotion in Miceli’s voice.

The last two tracks are Dancing With Demons and Personal both could be on any mainstream radio station and not be out of place , The album is extremely consistent and rarely moves off course of the bands idea of the sound they wanted. Personal gives you a Bring Me The Horizon feel at parts.

After a few listens of Palisades you know its an album you will be rocking to for a while , its not perfect by any means but there has been a great change in style which once perfected could lead to greater things.

Support the band and buy Palisades here!