Yours Truly – TOXIC
Release Date: 16th August 2024
Label: UNFD
Bandcamp
Genre: Alternative, Pop Punk, Rock.
FFO: Hot Milk, RedHook, Avril Lavigne, Eat Your Heart Out.
Review By: Mark Waight
Back from the brink, Aussie band Yours Truly return with a brand-new album Toxic to follow up on their 2020 debut, Self-Care. After all the inner turmoil of the last few years which would have seen many lesser bands fall by the wayside, Toxic has cathartically managed to lift Yours Truly up, left them rejuvenated and ready to move forward once again.
Although the subject matter of Toxic is often dark and moody, the band successfully use it as a foil to work through their issues and to come to terms with all the trauma of the past. Despite all this, the songs on Toxic are still often light and very punchy, with none of them being allowed to outstay their welcome either. Subject matter aside, Toxic for me is an album for the summer season which has a sunny upbeat feel-good factor about it, so if the aim of the game for Yours Truly was to ditch their unwanted baggage, I would say job done!
Yours Truly is Mikaila Delgado (vocals), Teddie Winder-Haron (Guitars) and Henry Beard (drums).
Kicking us off, Back 2 U has a driving riff, a heavy groove and a catchy chorus that’ll really get you in the mood. Released as a single and next up, Sour is a hard-hitting tune that, despite its title, easily hits that sweet spot with its punk rock rhythm and hooky vocal melodies.
Having never visited California Sober or otherwise, I was intrigued to check out this song, which turns out to be an absolutely banging pop punk tune. The aptly named Let Go then races through at just over two and a half minutes, leaving barely enough time to catch your breath.
All That I’m Not, is a slower and more emotional song with vocals that showcase the softer side of Yours Truly and demonstrates that these guys have plenty to offer in other areas too. Short and sweet Love Feels Like continues in a similar vein with this time a super cool, laid back and chilled out tune on offer. The track acts as a great mid-album breather before things pick up the pace once again. Bloodshot Eyes has a genuine rock feel about it with a much harder edge, and Sinking explores this a little further with another heavy punching backing track and some harsher Nu-Metal tinged vocals also wading in to give it cross genre appeal.
The earworm that is Desaturated takes us once again back to more familiar territory with relative ease, and sadly before we know it we are at the end of the album with finale Call My Name, bringing things to a close in a fitting manner.
Every single song on Toxic is anything but toxic, as they are all highly likeable, sing-along anthems that will make those long sunny days on the beach or by the pool even more memorable. Yours Truly are just simply one of those bands that are genuine crowd pleasers, I imagine that their gigs are great fun to attend with everyone having a good time and audience participation being a premium. A great, solid album – recommended!
(4 / 5)
