In the four years since New Jersey/Philadelphia quintet Sweet Pill released their debut album, ‘Where the Heart Is,’ they’ve blossomed among the current crop of new emo bands. However, having experienced a hectic few years, the burnout hit the band, resulting in vocalist Zayna Youssef and company scraping an album’s worth of demos and stepping back. It allowed Youssef time to reflect. Completed by guitarists Jayce Williams and Sean McCall, bassist Ryan Cullen, and drummer Chris Kearney, Sweet Pill decided to take their time on creating ‘Still There’s A Glow’.
Their patience is rewarded with an emotionally rich sophomore offering that sees Youssef touch on themes such as self-deception and denial, bad habits, and self-awareness. It provides ‘…Glow’ with a vulnerable spine, and complements Sweet Pill‘s blend of math-rock, pop-punk melodies, and emo lyrics. Early cuts ‘Sunblind’ and ‘Shameless’ quickly set the tone with twinkling math riffs, Yousseff’s strong voice, and a robust rhythm section.
As the album progresses, Sweet Pill hit their stride with a set of songs that unify the early narrative of self-destruction. ‘No Control’s subtle, musical intensity aligns with Youssef’s determination. Its chord progression is on par with her restlessness, charging full on before ‘Glow’ puts on the brakes. Here, the narrative heads into dreamy introspection with hazy guitars and escapist lyrics. ‘Slow Burn’ then arrives with a rugged urgency that makes the release feel inevitable, the cigarette metaphor serving double duty as both a literal habit and an abstract of self-defeat. Later on, ‘Rotten’ is executed with the same combustible energy.
‘Smoke Screen’ homes in on the mental tug-of-war. “I feel flammable / Like my touch is a torch / It’s uncontrollable,” Youssef sings as she wrestles with her destructive tendencies. It allows her to confront the damage she’s caused, giving her clarity, and serves as the album’s narrative pivot point. ‘Tough Love allows Zayna to confront her fears; “I am scared but not a coward, The difference is in the definition you give it.” With its restrained pacing and hypnotic guitars, it proves to be ‘…Glow’s emotional centrepiece.
The final pairing of ‘Holding On’ and ‘Letting Go’ solidifies the album’s transformative narration. The former shows Zayna’s determination, realising that her mindset change is ongoing and will require patience. It’s complemented by Williams and McCall’s glistening guitars and the dynamic rhythmic duo of Cullen and Kearney. The latter sees the fire metaphor return one last time, yet rather than being used for destruction, it provides closure with a hint of optimism. Alongside ringing guitars, Youssef sings of staying honest and promising progress to herself.
Despite being somewhat stylistically boxed in, Sweet Pill avoids a sophomore slump by delivering a record that relies on a sound that feels at home and assured for the five-piece. Alongside its introspective songwriting and overall narrative, ‘Still There’s A Glow’ offers plenty of longevity, elevated further by its clarity and thematic cohesion. By taking a step back, Sweet Pill have returned stronger and as sincere as ever.
‘Still There’s A Glow’ by Sweet Pill is out now on Hopeless Records.
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