Review: FIFTHNOTE - Here We Are
After discovering About Us' phenomenal Right Now, I have been listening to a lot of the new generation Northeastern Rock groups. While Brahmos deserve a particular mention, it is FIFTHNOTE who stole my attention the most with the dramatic '80s rock of Here We Are.
While Right Now was a modern evolution of Synth-Rock, Here We Are feels like a lost entry from the 1986 Transformers movie or a distant cousin to Europe's The Final Countdown. In intention, Here We Are clearly is aiming to be a new Eye of the Tiger, even lyrically so. While it certainly fails to live up to these incredible heights, FIFTHNOTE impress with their ambition.
From its opening synth riffs, leading to a dramatic first verse, it is clear that Here We Are does not intend to take any prisoners. As the song builds and builds, you know that the only possible positive conclusion is a towering chorus. Thankfully, that is exactly what happens. The towering refrain is instantly memorable, standing as imposing.
If one element is a particular highlight in the track, it would be the fantastic synths, crashing into the track with intense drive, worthy of the Animusic series. A speedy guitar riff in the bridge further builds upon this, though I certainly wish that it was followed by an equally bombastic final chorus.
With that, we come to my biggest gripe with the track; Samuel Thaba's vocal performance. Samuel clearly is a talented singer, but he comes off as strained, perhaps singing a half-octave what he normally sings in. Live performances continue to suggest this, as he seems much better suited for the lower octave's of the slightly melodically-weaker Misfortune. This is particularly evident in the chorus, where his vocals are stretched. Perhaps he was aiming for a Thrasher-metal timbre, but it comes off as melodically distracting. Nonetheless, the intent and emotion in his voice more than make up for this.
Overall, Here We Are is one of the best songs in contention for the end-of-year lists, and a strong cousin to Right Now. Hopefully, this new generation of Naga Rock bands continue to grow.
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