Conditions

Full of War

Remember in the late ’00s when we saw a new wave of alternative rock with exciting hooks, catchy choruses and mildly angsty vocals? That’s exactly where Conditions’ album Full of War fits in. The band has been around since 2006, but they never seemed to get the attention The Almost, Sullivan or The Classic Crime received. Hopefully, they’ll get a bit more attention this time around.

Most things that you would expect from an alternative rock album can be found here. The music stays interesting even during one or two filler tracks, but very few songs are particularly memorable. Several would work well as singles, but most fall short of being spectacular. “Best Mistake” starts with a killer snare and a nice bass line before exploding into what sounds like a hit — but then the vocals slow it down instead of letting it soar. If anything, it is the albums closing track, “Not Giving Up … Not Yet” that deserves the most attention. It doesn’t sound like a single, but the gang vocals and mid-song build undoubtedly will help the band’s live show.

Lyrically, the album touches some interesting topics. “The Descent of Man” is about angrily watching someone you trust take advantage of a woman (“Couldn’t wait to find her drinking / My God, you’re worthless”) and concludes with a surprise F-bomb in the line “Now you’ve crossed the line / Don’t f**k with my life.” Meanwhile, “Long Division” encourages you to accept your humanity whether you side more with God or science.

Nothing on the album is a letdown, but I’m pretty sure Conditions can still take it up a notch. When they do, they could easily join the leaders of modern rock music. Keep an eye out for them.