By Sean Huncherick
I’ve always loved listening to unsigned artists. It’s neat to discover incredible talent from various parts of the world and then let your friends know about some band from Estonia that are way better than whatever is on the radio. Sure, you have to dig through a pile of 50 crappy unsigned bands that sound like Coldplay, Foo Fighters, or As I Lay Dying, but occasionally you run into a gem and get to watch it grow. That’s where The Caulfield Cult fit in. This five-piece band from Singapore brings back a surprisingly solid second-wave emo sound that is comparable to Samiam, Sunny Day Real Estate, Hot Water Music, and at times, even early Thrice. Although the band is from Southeast Asia, don’t expect to hear any oriental influence. Instead, they sound just as American as any post-hardcore band (which is a bit of a pity; I would have liked to hear a Singaporean touch).
As for their album Things Can Only Get Worse From Here, there’s plenty of passion and energy from start to finish. None of the tracks are weak, but they do start to blend together after a while. My personal favorite song, “Drought” has a terrific punk beat and has a feel-good vibe to it. It’s followed by the tragic “Etched” which starts with the line “No, I won’t cry/The day my brother dies/I’ll lay him down/Scratching out both my eyes/I’m sorry mom, I know how hard you try.” Man. Maybe a bit overdramatic, but the song is memorable and a bit haunting – easily a highlight of the album.
[bandcamp album=1562194307 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=0687f5 size=venti]In the end, this is a great effort and worth checking out if you’re a fan of emo, post-hardcore, or indie rock. It’s just as good as anything else you’ll hear from a 90s emo band. The Caulfield Cult hasn’t gotten the spotlight just yet, but give them a spot on a few solid tours outside of Asia and watch them grow. Check out the album soon.
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