Letters Sent Home – Forever Undone
Release Date: 12th April 2024
Label: Sharptone Records
Order/Stream
Genre: Post-Punk, Alternative Rock, Pop Rock, Emo.
FFO: Future Palace, Halflives, Wind Runner, Venues, As Everything Unfolds.
Review By: Mark Waight
Forever Undone is the outstanding debut album from German quartet Letters Sent Home, who have now built up quite a following with their Post Punk, Alternative Rock, and EMO fused sound. Their infectious melodies and catchy verses have gone down a real storm during recent gigs with the likes of As Everything Unfolds and Blackout Problems.
Letters Sent Home is Emily Paschke (vocals), Lara Ripke (bass), Robin Werner (guitar) and Louis Schramm (drums).
Forever Undone is a cool collection of bite sized songs with plenty to spark interest from right across the spectrum. These short, sharp and very current compositions along with a couple of neat collaborations are bound to deliver Letters Sent Home plenty of critical acclaim along with a whole host of new followers, too.
Heavy riffing opening track Earthquake has plenty to shake the ground and introduce Letters Sent Home to the world. Great start.
The very upbeat Request Denied puts a sing-along spin on the depressing feelings of being rejected time and time again. Ignorance (featuring Dead Lakes) has a slower pace to it whilst still delivering plenty of punch via a kick ass melody.
The beautiful melody of Pedestal has an interesting slant to it with some harsher vocals courtesy of Chris Zuehike giving it a neat light/dark feel. Elements is smooth, soft, and gentler on the ears with the occasional burst of heavier bass giving it that slightly harder edge.
RnB threads run deeply throughout Hysteria, which could just as easily be a dance floor filler as much as a rock tune. Seven is bang up to date with a rich vein of different modern influences all blended seamlessly together in a sweet and very palatable cocktail.
Picking up the pace again with Gaslight (featuring ROYALIST) we are taken on a quicker jaunt with a defter approach. Sadists revisits that distinct RnB influence again with another get your move and groove on tune.
Rock makes a comeback in the Final Battle, where the Alternative flame is reignited in this mighty fine recording. We reach the end with the very fitting finale I Hope I Die First, which is a very enjoyable and lovely twist on a love song that rounds things off nicely.
Forever Undone is aimed at a much wider audience than the usual niche type of albums I review, and is certainly outside my normal comfort zone. That said, I know that this album is completely in vogue with current trends, and I am certain Letters Sent Home will get plenty of commercial success from this release. Forever Undone by Letters Sent Home is a definitive anthem for the younger generation and how they struggle to find their place in this modern world, making it worthy of interest to anyone who likes the modern alchemy of musical styles.
(3.5 / 5)
