Album Review: The Hard Aches - Mess

Freaking out, inability to drive, relinquishment... Yep, this is a Hard Aches album!

Although some themes are consistent there is a fresh vibe to Mess, which is sure to gain well-deserved attention. Camp Cope's Georgia Maq makes a few appearances, along with sneaky cameos from Jeff Rosenstock and The Bennies' Craig Selak, making it an album of punk-rock dreams.

Highlights include Warm Blooded, a romantic ode about love at first fall, "I wanna marry you, once all our friends can be married too." Warning: there will be goosebumps. Another that'll pull on the romantic heartstrings is Outline, while I Feel Like I'm Dying plays on morbid optimism. Mental state is something frontman Ben David is always upfront about and On The Mend captures that frail emotional headspace perfectly. The final two minutes of the album are pure magic, as Family provides another epic duet with Maq, as well as an instrumental far from the usual six strings and drum that fans are used to.

In true Hard Aches fashion, David lays all his vulnerabilities on the line. The skilful portrayal of such brutally honest emotion is certainly why Mess will be on repeat around the country.